The UK's new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market saw growth in the first month of the year, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) data.

Registrations rose 5.9% in January after three months of decline towards the end of 2019, caused by pent up demand due to regulatory changes, as well as operators taking advantage of some compelling deals on the latest models.

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Small vans weighing less than or equal to 2.0 tonnes and mid-sized vans weighing more than 2.0-2.5 tonnes led the charge, with double-digit growth for both segments at 26.3% and 41.7% respectively. 4x4s experienced a moderate growth of 6.3% while pickup registrations fell 9.7% and larger vans weighing more than 2.5-3.5 tonnes remained stable at 0.9%.  

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "January's growth is welcome news for the commercial vehicle sector. Especially welcome is the increased uptake of alternatively fuelled commercial vehicles, essential if we are to address both climate change and air quality goals. The fastest way to do this is by encouraging uptake of the latest low emission vehicles, regardless of fuel type, and business confidence remains vital for this transition."

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