June 2019 was the sixth consecutive month of growth for UK new light commercial vehicle sales as volume rose 13.5%, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Sales set a record for the first six months of the year, as buyers continued to be attracted by offers and model choice.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Demand for smaller vans weighing under 2.0 tonnes rose 10.3% year on year in June while sales of larger vans (2.5-3.5 tonnes) were up also, rising 22.2%.

However, demand for pickups and 4x4s slowed again with registrations down 0.7% and 21.8% respectively, and sales of medium sized vans (2.0-2.5 tonnes) also fell, off 3.6%.

For H1 2019, the LCV market was "remarkably strong", SMMT said, up 8.7% and "ahead of  expectations".

A tally of 196,418 new vans was registered, 15,722 more than a year ago.

Apart from 4x4s, sales of which are relatively small, all segments posted healthy rises with the strongest growth seen in demand for larger vans (2.5 to 3.5-tonnes).

The news came as both Fiat and Toyota announced updated or additional and electrified van models due in showrooms in 2020.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact