New Market Analysis: Tough at the top for medium vans

Tough economic conditions continued to take their toll on the UK’s new LCV market in April as registrations fell for the fifth month in a row.

Sales in the dominant 2.5-3.5t van segment, containing medium-sized vans, slumped by 22.9% year-on-year in April, according to the SMMT, with 12,113 registered.

In the year to 30 April, sales of vans in the 2.5 to 3.5t sector were down by 16.3% to 65,637.

The Ford Transit Custom took its customary place at the top of the sales chart in April, with 2,560 registrations, the Vauxhall Vivaro was the fifth best seller (933) and the Renault Trafic (682) was at number 10.

The Transit Custom was also the UK’s top-selling van in the year to date with 16,906 units shifted and was once more joined in the top 10 by the Vivaro (5,062) and Trafic (3,670).

Electric van sales continued to buck the trend, up 77.5% year-on-year to 1,686 in April, representing an 8.3% market share, although this remains little more than half of the 16% market share stipulated for 2025 in the government’s ZEV mandate.

Vauxhall, which claims to have sold more electric vans in the UK than any other brand with its Vivaro Electric the flag bearer, has announced a four-year servicing package for £199 (ex-VAT) across its electric van line-up. Targeted at SME business customers, the ‘Upgrade to Business Class’ package includes scheduled servicing for four years or 75,000 miles, whichever comes first. The servicing package is available alongside existing offers, including a complimentary home charger and standard residential installation (up to the value of £875 ex-VAT) through Free2move Charge, provided by Octopus Energy.

Renault revealed its new electric Trafic E-Tech at the CV Show in April. It will replace the current Trafic E-Tech and will be sold alongside the current diesel Trafic, which will continue to be available until 2035, according to Renault. 

The new van will come with a choice of 4.87m (L1) and 5.27m (L2) vehicle lengths, with load capacities of 5.1m³ and 5.8m³ respectively. A height of 1.9m is intended to allow access to underground car parks.

Features of the new Trafic’s design include a backlit Renault logo in the middle of a front ‘light strip’, a ‘triptych’ windscreen arrangement, a prominent snaking side beltline and a 3D rear light signature.

The new electric van will come with a choice of 60kWh and 81kWh battery options, which will allow a WLTP range of up to around 217 miles and 280 miles respectively. The Trafic E-Tech will go on sale in 2026.

Peugeot has unveiled a new performance-inspired version of its Expert medium van. The new Expert Sport features bodykit elements including a front lip spoiler, side skirts with integrated protective front mud guards and a new rear bumper designed to integrate with a distinctive rear spoiler. The model is also fitted with Y-spoke 18in alloy wheels and comes with a bespoke Sport livery.

The Expert Sport is available as a panel van or crew van with either a 180hp diesel engine or a 136hp electric motor.

Prices excluding VAT for the diesel version are £42,765 for a panel van and £45,465 for a crew van. Prices excluding VAT and including the UK Government’s Plug-in Van Grant for the electric version will be £48,315 for a panel van, and £51,015 for a crew van. 

In industry news, medical equipment supplier Medequip has added 17 Ford vans to its fleet, including nine Transit Customs that have been specially adapted for transporting ceiling track hoists.

National Highways, meanwhile, has ordered 18 Toyota Proace Electric vans for its fleet, which it says will be used by specialist structure inspectors working on England’s motorways and major A-roads. The EVs are contributing to National Highways’ commitment to make its corporate emissions net zero by 2030, and its goal for all non-traffic officer light vehicles to be electric by 2027.