Emerging from an unprecedented pandemic is bound to produce some unusual statistics – as April has proved with 30,440 new LCV registrations, the highest for the month since records began. Uptake over the first quarter of 2021 is now back at levels previously seen in 2019, primarily driven by increases in new registrations of the heaviest vans.
This is a remarkable recovery, but a note of caution is in order. Is this a step change in the ongoing structural shift in the sector, or a return to normal? We can be sure about one thing – for LCVs, at least – the move toward electric. Although electric LCV registrations remain low at just 3,146 units year to date, that is a 134% increase on last year. Much can happen over the coming months, but it will certainly make for interesting discussions at the Commercial Vehicle Show later this year.
Over the past 20 years the LCV sector has gone from something of a backwater to being front and centre in the UK economy; plus ça change indeed.
