Light Commercial registrations decline in January
In January, Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) dealers registered a total of 19,050 new vans and light commercials, a decrease of -20.5%.
Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) — an organisation which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK — commented on the latest SMMT’s new van registration figures: “January sees a disappointing start to the new year for light commercial registrations following a strong market throughout 2024.”
The heavier sectors of LCVs saw declines, with 2.0-2.5t sized vans dropping to 3,507 units from 5,040 units, a -30.4% decrease. The heavier, and most popular sized vans (2.5-3.5t) also saw a drop to 11,537 units from 14,839 units, a -22.3% decrease.
It’s reported that January’s registration figures saw a rise in the number of battery electric commercials registered under 3.5t, up 13.0% to 1,340 units representing 13.0% of the total market share.
Sue Robinson added: “The 2.5-3.5t van segment, which accounts for over 60% of all sub-3.5 tonne commercial sales and largely consists of bulky vehicles used for delivering consumer goods, is often a strong indicator of market confidence. Therefore, the decline in this sector is particularly disappointing.
“While the 7.6% market share for BEV commercials is encouraging, it remains well below the 16% ZEV target for light commercial vehicles this year—especially concerning with fines for each non-compliant van set to double from £9,000 to £18,000. Another important area to monitor is the upcoming Benefit-in-Kind tax changes for double cab pick-ups in April, which already seem to be influencing the market.
“The Government needs to recognise the importance of expanding the availability of faster, size-appropriate charging points for commercial vehicles. This is essential to provide light commercial operators with a practical incentive to transition to zero-emission vehicles without placing them at a financial disadvantage.”
