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New LCV market grows again
Date: Monday, November 6, 2023 | Author: Sean Keywood
The UK new LCV market saw year-on-year growth for the tenth month in a row in October.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), registrations were up by 17.7% last month, with 26,342 LCVs registered – also up by 3.8% compared with pre-pandemic 2019.
The 2.5-3.5t van segment saw registrations rise by 5.3% last month to 18,176, while 2.0-2.5t vans shot up by 106.1%, to 3,801 registrations.
Vans weighing less than 2.0t, however, were down by 20.4%, with 438 registered.
Pick-up truck registrations were up by 41.1% to 3,312, while 4x4s were up by 61.4% to 615.
Electric van registrations were down by 20.2% year-on-year, accounting for 5.2% of the market.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “As the crucial pre-Christmas delivery period commences, there is a clear appetite for fleets to be fitted out with the latest vans – and it is of critical importance that those vans are the latest, cleanest zero emission models.
“With van makers committed to decarbonisation, the upcoming Autumn Statement is the moment for government to send the right signal to operators ahead of the introduction of the ZEV mandate.
“Measures that address van-specific infrastructure challenges and enable more operators across the UK to make the switch are essential as we move towards a pivotal stage of the transition.”
Following the latest sales figures release, the SMMT has upwardly revised its whole-year LCV registrations forecast to 332,000 units, an increase of 1.4% compared with the previous forecast, issued in July. However, anticipated electric van registrations have been cut by -9.0% on the previous outlook to 21,000 units.
In 2024, the SMMT is forecasting 334,000 new LCV registrations, including 34,000 EVs.
The October sales chart was topped by the Ford Transit Custom with 2,841 registrations, ahead of the Ford Transit with 2,148, and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with 1,743.
Completing the top ten were the Volkswagen Transporter (1,658 registrations), Vauxhall Vivaro (1,527), Ford Ranger (1,416), Renault Trafic (977), Toyota Hilux (869), Maxus Deliver 9 (783), and Citroen Berlingo (760).
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