Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations have grown for the third month in a row, with a 17.3% rise to 47,634 units in March.
Medium vans, such as the Ford Transit Custom and the Vauxhall Vivaro, were the strongest contributors to the increase, with 4x4s also showing strong growth.
Year-on-year shows a similar result, with registrations up 17.4% compared to this time in 2022, with again, medium vans as the large part of the improvements.
Registrations were down for small vans, which could be due to lower demand, but could also reflect the scarcity of these vehicles on the market. This is expected to change in the coming months as some quantities of small vans are due to be made available.
In total, 87,272 light commercial vehicles have been registered in 2023 to date.
Looking at the powertrain split, there are small increases in battery electric van registrations. A 32.7% increase from March 2022, however, only represents around 600 additional vehicles. While any trend toward electric is welcomed, the rate of BEV uptake is still slow.
The SMMT expects last week’s publication of a Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate to accelerate the uptake of zero emissions vans when it comes into force at the end of the year. This should prompt a surge in BEV infrastructure to support.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “A solid first quarter of growth for the van market is a positive outcome, given the importance of vans in keeping Britain’s businesses on the move. These working vehicles are also essential in helping Britain decarbonise, so all barriers to uptake must be removed to accelerate fleet renewal. The most important requirement now is the urgent development of widespread and dependable van-suitable charging infrastructure to bolster operator confidence to make the switch.”
Van Ninja reports a similar increase in new vehicle enquiries, and Van Ninja staff have been working hard to ensure stock levels can meet this demand.
For more information, our In Stock page has a list of currently available vehicles.
Looking at the powertrain split, there are small increases in battery electric van registrations. A 32.7% increase from March 2022, however, only represents around 600 additional vehicles. While any trend toward electric is welcomed, the rate of BEV uptake is still slow.
The SMMT expects last week’s publication of a Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate to accelerate the uptake of zero emissions vans when it comes into force at the end of the year. This should prompt a surge in BEV infrastructure to support.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “A solid first quarter of growth for the van market is a positive outcome, given the importance of vans in keeping Britain’s businesses on the move. These working vehicles are also essential in helping Britain decarbonise, so all barriers to uptake must be removed to accelerate fleet renewal. The most important requirement now is the urgent development of widespread and dependable van-suitable charging infrastructure to bolster operator confidence to make the switch.”
Van Ninja reports a similar increase in new vehicle enquiries, and Van Ninja staff have been working hard to ensure stock levels can meet this demand.
For more information, our In Stock page has a list of currently available vehicles.
