New van sales rose 8.8% year-on-year in November to 28,541 to mark the third consecutive month of growth, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
With businesses scaling up online delivery operations, the 2.5 to 3.5-tonne sector led the way with a 25.2% uplift to 20,769 registrations. Sales of compact vans weighing up to 2.0-tonnes increased 13.7% to 1,692 and sales of vans weighing from 2.0 to 2.5-tonnes were up 13.6% to 3,943.
Faring less well was the pick-up sector that slumped 56.2% compared to last November, to 1,989 units.
The Ford Transit Custom was the UK’s biggest-selling van in November followed by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, Vauxhall Vivaro and Citroen Berlingo.
Despite the market growth during the last three months, new LCV volumes in the year to 30 November were down 21.5% to 265,374 registrations.
Ford remained the market leader by a long stretch in the first 11 months of the year, taking a market share of 31.9%, albeit with sales down 23% to 84,518. Volkswagen, Mercedes and Vauxhall were bunched closely together behind Ford with sales of 28,921, 28,379 and 28,279 respectively.
Commenting on the market, SMMT boss Mike Hawes said: “Growth in new van registrations, even through November’s lockdown, is welcome during these turbulent times but it’s important not to assume a long trend just yet.
“As regions emerge from lockdown for the final month of 2020, it’s vital that this growth translates into longer term investment in fleet renewal for the sector to help drive the economy towards recovery.”
