SMMT: Best February in two-and-a-half-century for UK van market
The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew for the second consecutive month in February, increasing 8.5% to 17,540 units, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of British Motor Manufacturers (SMMT). rice field.
The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew for the second consecutive month in February, increasing 8.5% to 17,540 units, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). I was. February is traditionally a volatile month with low volumes, as many carriers delay procurement until March and the new license plates, but this increase in February’s performance is more than the biennial number Best since 1998 before the plate change was introduced.1
Registrations of vans weighing over 2.5-3.5 tons increased by 14.0% to 12,125 units, accounting for more than two-thirds (69.1%) of the total market, while vans weighing up to 2.0 tons increased by 5.2%. bottom. Conversely, midsize vans weighing over 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes fell -16.5% to 3,361 units, reflecting a broader secular trend towards larger units. The low volume pickup and 4×4 utility segments both posted double-digit growth, up 42.3% and 90.8% respectively.
Meanwhile, deliveries of battery-electric vans fell to 966 units, down 44.5% from February 2022, which was particularly strong. The traditional decline in sales for the month highlights the natural fluctuations in fleet investment. With more new models expected to hit the market in the coming months, growth is expected to resume, with the latest market outlook showing a 64.5% increase in electric van registrations this year to around 28,000. It is expected to become a platform.2 However, long-term growth to reach net-zero targets will depend on strong and flexible markets and purpose-built infrastructure, which has so far fallen short.
Year-to-date, overall LCV registrations increased by 17.5% in the same period in 2022 and by 5.3% in the first two months of 2020.3 This reflects the demand for these important vehicles from key sectors.
SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said:
After a blistering 2022, the UK van market is returning to sustained growth above pre-pandemic levels. Given the importance of vans in keeping the UK economy and society running, this growth is good news. However, as the ZEV market is still in its very early stages, a concerted effort by all stakeholders to accelerate the installation of van-friendly charging points becomes an urgent priority, and long-term, at the required scale. investment in a net zero fleet.
February 1, 1998: 18,044 units.
2 Jan-Feb 2020: 37,660 units.
3 SMMT UK new car and van forecast – February 2023.
sauce: SMMT
https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/smmt-best-february-in-quarter-of-a-century-for-uk-van-market/ SMMT: Best February in two-and-a-half-century for UK van market
