Today SMMT has published the light commercial vehicle registration figures for August with 14,365 new vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads, down -13.3% on last year. The contraction means volumes have fallen every month this year. However, it’s difficult to draw conclusions from just August alone, as it is normally a quieter month ahead of the new plate registrations in September, one of the most important market months.
New entrants to the UK market have boosted the variety of zero emission vans on the market, with more than 40 battery electric vehicle options now available, and more expected to come to market in the next 12 months.Green shoots are starting to grow with ZEV registrations more than doubling (110.4%) compared with August last year– growth that pushed volumes to 1,898 units and market share to a new monthly record of 13.0%. However, the market currently sits at 9.1% year to date, some distance below the 16% mandated target, highlighting the need to increase market confidence.
Government needs to pull every lever available to help stimulate the zero emission market. The recent extension of the Plug in Van Grant to March 2026 is positive, but the proposal from the London Mayor to remove the exemption of zero emission vehicles from the London Congestion Zone will not help. SMMT is calling for the exemption to continue until 2035, especially to help small businesses, schools, charities and educational facilities make the switch.
This week, it’s also CENEX at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, which provides an opportunity to showcase a broad range of leading-edge technology and provide thought leadership on both the drive to net zero, and also connected autonomous vehicles. SMMT are a supporting partner for the event and SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes participated on the opening panel – ‘How the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan can support the ambitious investments needed to realise a competitive motor industry in the UK’.
It is also an opportunity to see and test drive a variety of zero emission vehicles. The test track at Millbrook provides operators the chance to get behind the wheel and try out the latest models over a variety of courses. Innovation is gathering pace, and as we accelerate to the end of sale date for vehicles below 26 tonne in less than a decade, events like this that can showcase technology are crucial for helping to inspire more businesses to make the transition.
