UK new LCV registrations fell by 4.5% year-on-year in June, bringing an end to a record-equalling 17 consecutive months of growth.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which compiles the data, argued that last month’s decline had been artificially inflated, in part, by a very strong June 2023.
The market-leading 2.5-3.5t van segment saw an 8.3% year-on-year decline in June, with 21,677 registrations.
However, decline was not universal across market segments, with 2.0-2.5t van registrations up by 14% to 7,169, and vans weighing less than 2.0t up by 58.7% to 806.
Pick-up truck registrations fell by 18.1% to 2,776, and 4x4s were down by 20.3% to 638.
Electric LCV registrations were down by 16.8% in June, accounting for 4.5% of the market.
Despite last month’s decline, the SMMT said that first half of the year for the new LCV market had been the strongest since 2021, and up by 4.5% compared with the first six months of 2023.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The best first half of a year since 2021 is great news for a market so intrinsic to economic growth, but this optimism will only continue if action is taken to re-energise zero emission van demand.
“A new government provides an opportunity to bolster the market with a strategy to grow the UK’s van-specific charging network at pace and maintain essential fiscal incentives to keep this vital market on track, without which our net zero ambitions will be at risk.”
The Ford Transit Custom topped the June sales chart with 4,954 registrations, ahead of the Ford Transit with 2,730, and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with 1,911.
Completing the top ten were the Renault Trafic (1,888 registrations), Peugeot Partner (1,703), Ford Ranger (1,686), Vauxhall Combo (1,580), Vauxhall Vivaro (1,450), Volkswagen Transporter (1,274), and Ford Transit Connect (1,116).
