SMMT: Bumper March for brand spanking new vans as fleet demand surpasses 50,000 items

Greater than 50,000 new gentle industrial autos (LCVs) joined UK roads in a bumper March for fleet renewal as extra companies upgraded to the very newest fashions than in every other month in the course of the previous three years. 52,916 new vans, 4x4s and pickups have been registered, up 11.1% as Britons more and more rely on vans for every little thing from on-line procuring to native trades.¹ Because of this, the van sector in 2024 delivered its greatest first quarter for 3 years,² with volumes now simply -7.7% beneath Q1 2019.³

Registrations have been pushed by in style demand for the most important fashions – these weighing greater than 2.5 tonnes to three.5 tonnes – up 16.1% to signify greater than two thirds (67.3%) of the market. The largest share enhance in uptake was of the smallest vans, up 44.8% to 986 items, whereas demand for medium-sized vans fell barely by -3.6% to eight,939 items. Decide-up volumes elevated to five,767, up 0.1% in contrast with a very sturdy month final yr, whereas demand for the newest 4x4s rose by 29.1% to 1,632 items.

Extra fleets went inexperienced final month than in every other new numberplate month up to now, with new battery electrical vans (BEVs) persevering with to rise, up 14.7% to 2,906 items.4 It means the very greenest vans represented 5.5% of the entire LCV market, however up solely barely from 5.3% in March final yr. With producers now mandated to realize more and more formidable proportions of zero emission gross sales,5 pressing motion is required to enhance the arrogance of operators – from massive fleets to small companies and the self-employed – to modify to the rising vary of BEV fashions on supply.

Sustaining present buy incentives is crucial, however pressing motion can also be wanted to deal with the issues of some companies. This contains tackling charging nervousness by ramping up van-suitable public infrastructure throughout the UK, from motorways to residential streets, in order that operators have full confidence to cost wherever and every time they want. On the identical time, with the price of VAT on public charging 4 occasions larger than non-public or house charging, this disparity presents one other impediment for companies planning to transition to a internet zero fleet, which is crucial if the UK’s world-leading internet zero market is to be met.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Government, stated,

A robust new plate month with the best variety of zero emission vans becoming a member of UK roads is a bellwether of the sector’s progress, slicing emissions whereas maintaining British companies on the transfer. Trade is able to ship additional, however with inexperienced uptake nonetheless beneath mandated ranges, swift motion is required to offer new van consumers the arrogance to go electrical. Speedy supply of van-suitable public charging factors and eradicating the hurdle of taxation on their use are key to greener fleets and a greener future.

1 LCV registrations, March 2021: 56,122 items.
2 LCV registrations, Q1 2021: 97,356 items.
3 LCV registrations, Q1 2019: 102,743 items.
4 Solely December 2023, at 2,964 items, has had the next month-to-month BEV registration whole than March 2024.
5 The Zero Emission Car Mandate requires 10% of producers’ new LCV gross sales be zero emission in 2024.

SOURCE: SMMT