London, June 05, 2025 , (Oilandgaspress) –––UK’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market fell by -11.8% in May with 22,796 vans, 4x4s and pick-ups joining the road, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The contraction marks the lowest May performance since 2022 and rounds off the sixth consecutive month of decline, as weak business confidence holds back fleet investment
| May-25 | May-24 | % change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Pickups | 2,690 | 3,081 | -12.7% |
| B 4x4s | 716 | 523 | 36.9% |
| C Vans <=2.0T | 673 | 730 | -7.8% |
| D Vans > 2.0-2.5T | 4,065 | 4,477 | -9.2% |
| E Vans >2.5-3.5T | 14,652 | 17,042 | -14.0% |
| All Vans to 3.5T | 22,796 | 25,853 | -11.8% |
| Rigids > 3.5 -4.25 t (BEV only) | 76 | 77 | -1.3% |
| Rigids > 3.5 – 6.0t (Other) | 732 | 620 | 18.1% |
| All rigids | 808 | 697 | 15.9% |
Demand shrank for new vans of all sizes, with the largest models down -14.0% to 14,652 units, while deliveries of medium sized vans fell by -9.2% to 4,065 units and the smallest vans by -7.8% to 673. Only the new 4×4 segment saw growth, up 36.9% to 716 units. The pickup segment, meanwhile, declined by -12.7% to 2,690 registrations as April’s introduction of fiscal measures to treat double-cabs as cars for benefit in kind and capital allowance purposes began to bite.
Top models May
Top models 2025
| May | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford TRANSIT CUSTOM | 3,365 |
| 2 | Ford TRANSIT | 2,449 |
| 3 | Peugeot PARTNER | 1,216 |
| 4 | Toyota HILUX | 1,096 |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 1,064 |
| 6 | Ford RANGER | 1,003 |
| 7 | Citroën BERLINGO | 688 |
| 8 | Volkswagen Crafter | 664 |
| 9 | Vauxhall VIVARO | 653 |
| 10 | Renault TRAFIC | 646 |
The tax change is heaping additional costs on businesses in key sectors – such as farming, construction, utilities and sole trading – which depend on these operationally critical vehicles. Discouraging operators from placing new orders will keep more polluting vehicles on the road for longer and, counterproductively, reduce tax revenues given lower volumes. SMMT continues to urge government to postpone the change for at least one year to give industry and customers more time to prepare, especially given new lower and zero emitting vehicles entering the market.
Manufacturers are making massive investments to decarbonise the market and demand for battery electric vans (BEVs) continues to grow, up 50.0% to 1,731 units in May – the seventh successive month of rising demand.2 Businesses can now choose from almost 40 BEV models that meet a wide range of use cases but, despite this, zero emission vans represented just 7.6% of the overall market in May and 8.2% in the year to date – half the 16% share mandated for 2025.
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