UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations fell 86.2% year on year in April 2020 as the coronavirus shut down the market, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
Only 3,387 LCVs were sold last month, 21,217 fewer than in April 2019.
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Demand for smaller commercial vehicles was hit badly with 271 pickups registered in April, down 91.8%, while vans weighing two tonnes or less saw a 92.3% decline and registrations of mid sized vans weighing more than 2.0-2.5 tonnes fell 90.4%.
Demand for larger vans weighing more than 2.5-3.5 tonnes was down 83.1% to 2,588 units.
With lockdown measures effective across the country since mid-March, year to date volume declined 44.0%.
SMMT now expects an overall LCV market decline of 28% in 2020 to 263,000 units by the end of the year.
"Although registrations are expected to recover in 2021, the expectation is still for a 6.1% decline on 2019, which was a particularly healthy year," the SMMT said.
The 3,387 vans registered in April were largely made up of orders rushed through to meet demand of industries working on the front line of the coronavirus response, including fleets for the NHS, emergency services, pharmaceutical, food distribution and home delivery services as the nation grew more reliant on these key businesses, SMMT added.
