A ‘challenging economic outlook’ and ‘weak business confidence’ hammered van sales last year.
The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the LCV market declined by -10.3% in 2025 with 315,422 vans, pickups and 4x4s registered.
Fleet renewal shrank in every month last year other than December, which posted a slight 1.7% rise.
But deliveries of new battery electric vans (BEVs) rose by 36.2% with a record 30,169 registrations.
The SMMT said the growth was significant in a contracting overall market, driven by massive industry investment to provide more than 40 different zero emission van models – representing more than half of new model choice.
Despite this offering, manufacturers still had to subsidise the sale of their cutting-edge The full year EV market share stands at only 9.5%, however, well short of the 16% mandated for the year, reflecting a clear gap between ambition and reality.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “2025’s new van market reflects a tough economic environment which constrained fleet investment. While rising EV uptake is encouraging, it has come at a huge cost to industry and remains significantly adrift of ambition. Government’s upcoming review must acknowledge the unique challenges facing the light commercial vehicle sector and the additional action required, else the gap between market regulation and reality will continue to widen.”
