New light commercial vehicle registrations in the UK have fallen for the fifth month running, dropping 25.1% to 22,000 units amid continued component shortages.

While the fall was amplified in comparison with last year, which saw the highest total May registrations in history, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the market was still some 21.5% below the pre-pandemic average.

All market segments declined. Small vans under 2.0 tonnes were hard hit, with a 53.4% fall. Medium vans in the 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes category dropped by 33.4% while larger vans weighing more than 2.5 tonnes saw the least decline with a fall of 19.4%. The largest fall was recorded in the 4×4 sector (down by 80.7%) but it remains a low-volume segment that’s subject to volatility.

Year-to-date, LCV registrations are down 25.0% or some 39,209 fewer vans, with the largest decline in the small van sector – down 58.8%.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations bucked the trends though and were up 46.5% in May to 869 units and 62.7% for the year-to-date, due in part to significant large fleet orders delivered earlier in the year.

As a result, overall BEV market share has more than doubled to 5.2%. But this still lags behind the new car market, where, in the year to date, BEVs comprise 14.0% of new registrations. And the SMMT renewed its call for a ‘van plan’ to encourage operators to make the switch by providing long-term incentives and dedicated van charging infrastructure.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “This is still an emerging market and everything must be done to encourage drivers to switch to zero-emission commercial vehicles if we are to achieve our net zero goals.

“The industry will tackle the supply chain challenges undermining delivery but we urgently need a van plan to address the paucity of dedicated commercial vehicle infrastructure, as well as incentives to boost the sector’s electric transition.”