The UK new LCV market saw registrations fall by 8.5% year-on-year in July.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed a market decline for the second month in a row, off the back of 17 consecutive months of growth.
The SMMT said last month’s decline was in comparison with a strong July 2023, and highlighted how the overall market for the year to date was still up by 2.7%.
The market-leading 2.5-3.5t van segment saw a 12% decline in July, with 16,814 registrations.
The 2.0-2.5t van segment was down by 8.4%, with 4,036 registrations, while the segment for vans weighing less than 2.0t, in contrast to the rest of the market, shot up by 117.6% with 929 registrations.
Pick-up truck registrations were down by 5.1%, to 2,293, while 4×4 registrations were down by 2.1%, to 617.
EV registrations were down by 14.6% to 1,415 units, taking 5.7% of the market.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Britain’s new van market remains robust following a record-equalling growth run and, despite a dip in June and July, demand will resume with manufacturers offering impressive product line-ups.
“Declining uptake of the very greenest models remains a major concern, however, given the UK’s zero emission ambitions. Industry has invested – and continues to commit – billions into this transition but manufacturers cannot deliver this alone.
“Given the paucity of van-specific charging infrastructure, we need an equally ambitious mandate for chargepoint rollout, one that supports operators right across the country.”
The Ford Transit Custom topped the LCV sales charts as usual in July, with 3,718 registrations, ahead of the Ford Transit (1,744 registrations), and the Volkswagen Transporter (1,413).
Completing the top 10 were the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (1,354 registrations), Ford Ranger (1,345), Vauxhall Vivaro (1,225), Renault Trafic (1,178), Vauxhall Combo (844), Citroen Berlingo (735), and Ford Transit Courier (708).
