Britain’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew for the ninth month in a row in September, up 28.1% to 44,760 vans, pickups and 4x4s, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
“One of the most popular months for new van purchases, ‘plate change [73] September’ saw robust demand round off 20.8% growth year to date with 257,979 units registered in the first nine months,” the SMMT said in a statement.
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Sales of the largest vans – greater than 2.5 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes – rose 13% to 29,150 units. Medium-sized van sales rose 89% to 7,085 units while demand for pickups and 4x4s increased 64.4% and 141.8% respectively. Deliveries of the smallest vans fell 13.4% to 880 units.
A plug-in van grant (government subsidy), competitive running costs and increasing model choice continued to boost demand for battery electric vans (BEVs) in September with deliveries up 85.9% to 2,882 units, accounting for one in 16 new vans registered in the month.
A UK record 14,296 electric vans have been registered since January, taking just 5.5% of the overall market.
Manufacturers now face new zero emission van sales quotas starting at 10% in January 2024.
