The new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market rose 3.6% in May with 23,620 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance marks a second successive month of growth for the first time since 2024.1
Overall growth was driven by increased demand for large vans, with registrations up 18.6% to 17,380 units and a market share of 73.6%, compared with a 64.3% share in May last year. Uptake of 4x4s also grew, up 16.2% to 832 units, while deliveries of medium and small vans fell by -7.5% and -24.5% to 3,762 and 508 units respectively.
Demand for pickups fell sharply for an eighth month, down -57.7% to 1,138 registrations, now representing just 4.8% of the total market versus 11.8% a year ago. The decline reflects the ongoing impact of fiscal changes introduced for double-cabs last April, which classify them as cars for Benefit in Kind purposes with significant cost implications for vital business sectors such as farming and construction. Industry continues to call on government to reverse this measure to encourage investment into lower emission and zero emission models, supporting decarbonisation while still benefiting Treasury revenue.
Once again, demand for battery electric vans (BEVs) grew strongly, up 35.5% with 2,345 registrations in May as market share reached 9.8%, up from 7.6% in the same period last year.2 While this growth is encouraging, the share fell on April’s 11.1%, putting the 2026 mandated target of 24% even further out of reach. In the year to date, BEVs represent 9.5% of all new van registrations – below even the 2024 target of 10%.
More than half of the UK’s LCV model line-up is now available with a plug, which is supported by significant discounts through manufacturer incentives and government’s Plug-In Van Grant. However, higher upfront costs for fleet renewal, rising energy prices and ongoing infrastructure constraints continue to hold back uptake. As demand struggles to keep pace with ambition, industry continues to call for an urgent review of the transition.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Two months of LCV market growth is good news, but the overall outlook remains challenging. Battery electric van uptake is rising, but not fast enough to match regulatory ambition, while the collapse in pickup demand shows how quickly tax policy can hit key sectors. If the transition is to succeed, regulation, infrastructure and incentives must be aligned with the realities of the market.”
