The UK’s new light commercial vehicle market grew for the second month running in September, but battery electric van (BEV) uptake fell.
The arrival of the new ‘74’ numberplate prompted registrations of 48,455 new vans, 4x4s and pickups last month, up 8.3% as more businesses invested in fleet renewal than any month this year bar March.
Demand for the smallest vans continued, rising by 34.1% to 1,180 registrations, while deliveries of new medium-sized vans increased by 34.8% to 9,552 units. The largest models remained the most popular, up 8.6% to 31,645 units, accounting for almost two-thirds (65.3%) of the market.
Registrations of pickups and 4x4s declined – down 16.0% and 42.4% respectively to 5,331 units and 747 units, following particularly strong demand last year.
September’s growth means 267,339 new LCVs have joined UK roads so far this year, up 3.6% on the same period in 2023 and the largest January-September volume since 2019, according to the new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
But battery electric van (BEV) registrations in September fell 0.5% to 3,020 units, with a larger fall in smaller eLCVs, making September the fourth successive month of falling BEV demand and the sixth month of decline across 2024.
It means 14,188 new BEVs have been registered since the start of January, 7.7% below the same period last year and representing just 5.3% of all new LCVs registered so far in 2024 – just over half the 10% required by the UK’s ZEV mandate.
The auto sector says BEVs remain stubbornly more expensive to source, produce and, despite compelling offers, more expensive to buy. The lack of charge point infrastructure, particularly those that are suited to the specific needs of vans, also presents a major barrier for fleet operators considering the switch.
The trade body, along with 12 major vehicle manufacturers, has written to the Chancellor calling for measures to and help speed up the pace of the consumer and business EV transition.
These include maintaining and extending the important Plug-in Van Grant beyond 2025; equalising VAT on public charging to match the 5% home charging rate, and mandating infrastructure targets to support those who cannot charge at home and with provisions for the additional size and power requirements of zero-emission vans – critical to operator confidence in zero-emission fleet operations.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “For van fleets to go green at pace they need the immediate encouragement – and long-term certainty – of fiscal incentives and van-specific charging infrastructure. Without these, UK decarbonisation ambitions cannot be achieved at the world-leading speed demanded by regulation.”
