New van registrations increased by 15.3% in May compared with last year, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This marks the fifth consecutive month showing growth, with 2023 proving to be a positive year so far.
The rising number of deliveries is due in part to improving supply chain effectiveness, as post-pandemic challenges continue to ease. While the increase is welcome, registrations remain 13% below the pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Medium vans, between 2.0t and 2.5t were the major cause of the increase, going from 17,392 in 2022 to 24,231 in 2023. This is a year-to-date increase of 39%. 4x4s increased an incredible 205.6% year-to-date compared to 2022. While the number of units registered was small, going from 997 to 3047, it is still an impressive stat.
Electric vehicle registrations have increased 20%, form 869 in May 2022 to 1041 in May 2023, though the market share remains around 4%. Year-on-year, the electric van market share remains at 5.2%, the same as this time last year, so while the unit numbers are increasing, the proportion of electric to diesel vehicles remains the same.
This is likely to change next year, when the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate is launched. The ZEV Mandate requires every manufacturer to register a minimum number of electric vehicles, which should encourage greater EV take up. This could be slowed by the lack of suitable charge points across the country, something that the SMMT and others are pressing the government to rectify.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “A van market rebound is an opportunity to deliver an increasingly environmentally sustainable recovery and a boost to the economy. But every lever must be pulled to support the electric switch. With the forthcoming ZEV Mandate, we also need a national plan to deliver public charging infrastructure that encourages plug-in van uptake, to give the UK confidence over what can – and must – be a stable, successful transition for businesses up and down the country.”
Van Ninja continues to acquire stock for business leasing, but some vehicle models remain difficult to source. Selecting your new vehicle based on availability is still good practice.
