Gentle industrial car (LCV) gross sales fell by -20.5% in January with 19,050 vans, pick-ups and 4x4s registered.
The Society of Motor Producers & Merchants (SMMT), which launched the figures, mentioned it was the second consecutive month-to-month decline following robust development in 2024.
It forecast that gross sales would fall by -1.2% to 348,000 models in opposition to a tricky financial backdrop with weakened enterprise confidence to speculate.
Falling demand hit all however one section, with small van registrations recording the one enhance, up 89.8% to 668 models however nonetheless only a fraction (3.5%) of the market.
Registrations of the most important vans have been down -22.3% to 11,537 models – representing 60.6% of the general market – whereas these of medium vans fell by -30.4% to three,507 models. Within the smaller quantity segments, in the meantime, 4x4s and pick-ups fell by -27.2% and -6.5% respectively.
Battery electrical van (BEV to 4.25T) uptake rose for the fourth consecutive month, supported by the continuation of the Plug-in Van Grant, up 12.4% to 1,464 models – an total market share of seven.6%.
Additional development is anticipated throughout the 12 months, with the newest outlook revealed at the moment suggesting BEV volumes (to three.5T solely) will attain 33,000 in 2025 to command a ten.6% share of registrations – considerably under the 16% mandated. On the identical time, the general market is anticipated to contract by -1.2% to 348,000 models.
The SMMT known as on authorities’s assessment of the Zero Emission Automobile Mandate to ship measures and flexibilities to help the business and the van purchaser.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief government, mentioned: “The van market has loved a bullish efficiency over the previous two years however, amid a tricky financial atmosphere, companies are beneath strain.
“It means motion is required to drive fleet renewal and again the business which has invested massively to provide new EV fashions.
“The mandate review must, therefore, deliver workable regulation that reflects market realities, and ensure infrastructure rollout that makes fleet decarbonisation a commercially viable, compelling proposition.”
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