New LCV market starts year with growth

Date: Monday, February 6, 2023 | Author: Sean Keywood

UK new LCV registrations rose by 25.8% year-on-year in January, marking the first month of growth since last September.

According to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures, a total of 22,098 LCVs were registered.

Although this represents strong annual growth, the SMMT noted this was still 6.2% below the last pre-pandemic January figures from 2020.

Last month saw registrations in the market-leading 2.5-3.5t van segment increase by 34.1% year-on-year, with 15,538 registrations, while 2.0-2.5t vans were up by 3.3%, with 3,133 registered.

The segment for vans weighing less than 2.0t was the only one to see a decline in January, down by 22.6% with 439 registrations.

Pick-up trucks were up by 20.6%, with 2,539 registrations, while 4x4 registrations rose by 62.7% to 449.

Battery electric vans saw a 53.5% increase in January, with 993 registrations, accounting for 3.7% of the market.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The LCV sector is already delivering growth for the UK in 2023, bucking the recessional economic trends.

“Manufacturers have invested billions to bring choice to the market, especially in electrified vehicles, so harnessing this momentum will be essential to an increasingly green recovery.

“Accelerating electric van uptake means delivering infrastructure and incentives to give every van operator the confidence to make the switch.”

The Ford Transit Custom topped the LCV sales charts in January with 2,787 registrations, ahead of the Volkswagen Transporter with 1,429, and the Ford Ranger with 1,367.

Completing the top ten were the Vauxhall Vivaro (1,332 registrations), Ford Transit (1,292), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (1,266), Renault Trafic (1,196), Ford Transit Connect (964), Toyota Hilux (705), and Citroen Relay (686).

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