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UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations saw a 3% year-on-year increase in 2024, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), marking the strongest market performance in three years with a total of 351,834 units registered.
While electric LCV registrations also grew by 3.3%, their market share remained at 6.3%. This highlights the need for continued focus on EV adoption within the sector.
A significant driver of growth was the sub-2.0t van segment, which experienced a substantial 44.5% surge in registrations, reaching 8,606 units. The 2.0-2.5t segment also performed well with a 12.3% increase to 65,148 units, while the largest segment, 2.5-3.5t vans, saw a more modest 2.1% rise to 233,216 units.
However, not all segments experienced growth. Pick-up truck registrations declined by 8.3% to 37,582, a figure the SMMT predicts could fall further following upcoming tax changes. 4×4 registrations also decreased, falling by 9.7% to 7,282 units.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes emphasized the importance of the LCV sector as an indicator of the UK economy: “Vans, 4x4s and pick-ups keep businesses everywhere on the move, making this sector a barometer of the UK economy. The best overall volume in three years, therefore, is good news with van makers striving to deliver abundant and competitive EV choice.”
Hawes also stressed the critical need for improved charging infrastructure to support wider EV adoption within fleets: “Buyer confidence, however, will inevitably be undermined when charging infrastructure does not meet the needs of fleet operations. A review of EV regulation is crucial, therefore, to reflect current market realities and ensure ambitions are deliverable, without any negative and costly consequences.”
In contrast to the overall annual growth, December’s figures revealed an 8.3% year-on-year market decline. Despite a 13.6% increase in sub-2.0t van registrations, other segments experienced decreases: 2.0-2.5t vans were down 4.1%, 2.5-3.5t vans down 2.2%, pick-ups down 28.1%, and 4x4s down 54.4%.
