LCV sales fall for fourth straight month – SMMT
LCV sales fell by 3.2% in March to 51,221 units, according to new figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The decline was the fourth consecutive monthly fall in the new LCV market with weak business confidence scaling back investment in the latest models.
Lower volumes were driven by 10% fewer registrations (32,025) of the largest vans, which accounted for 62.5% of the overall market.
Deliveries of medium sized vans and 4x4s were down by 8.5% and 18.9% respectively, although demand for smaller vans was up for the 13th month in a row, climbing 60.8% to 1,585 units and 3.1% of the market, and registrations of new pickups surged by 40.6% to 8,107 units.
Meanwhile, demand for new battery electric vans weighing up to 4.25 tonnes grew for the sixth month in a row. Sales rose 40.3% to 4,215 units, accounting for 8.3% of the market in the first three months of 2025.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive said: “Vans, pick-ups and 4x4s are critical for business operations across the UK so four months of falling investment is concerning and reflects weak confidence, with further constraints set to impact the pick-up segment.
“It is positive, however, that electric uptake continues to rise thanks to growing model choice. Even so, with demand still well below 2025 ambitions, suitably bold plans for infrastructure rollout and workable regulation are needed to grow operator confidence and the investment that is needed.”
