As we surge along to the end of the year, it’s worth looking back at some of 2025’s key highlights – skills investments, HGV charging rollout, and biggest change for buses in 40 years.
In February, SMMT marked National Apprenticeship Week with its annual Apprentice Showcase in Parliament – with strong representation from leading van and truck manufacturers and, for the first time, the bus sector. This year has seen major investment from five heavy vehicle manufacturers in new heavy vehicle technical training centres across the UK to support the development of the future workforce.
Then in March, Innovate UK held the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Summit in London where Transport Minister, Lillian Greenwork, announced 54 locations for the government funded HGV Charging and Hydrogen Refuelling sites, along with plans for the various consortium to fund more than 300 zero emission HGVs. I attended the opening of the first dedicated HGV Charging Hub in Immingham, and had the pleasure of driving one of the first zero emission electric trucks build in the UK off the production line in Leyland. Good news is tempered though, by the announcement this week that one of the consortium focused on hydrogen vehicles and refuelling infrastructure has failed, showing the route to net zero remains arduous. The closure of two production facilities for LCVs and buses also demonstrates the ongoing challenges facing the sector
More positively, 2025 also saw the Commercial Vehicle Show mark its 25th anniversary, with this crucial event in the calendar now under new ownership with Nineteen Group. SMMT will continue to be a strategic partner for the Show, with our members still benefitting from a discount on their stand bookings. With Nineteen Group announcing a new co-located show – Bus and Coach Expo – for 2026 and with several vehicle manufacturers already confirmed, next April’s show promises to be an unmissable opportunity to bring the industry together.
Working together delivers impressive results, as this year’s event showed. The new Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme was launched at CVS 2025, with SMMT on the steering committee. MPRS will provide operators the opportunity to see a standardised rating for heavy vehicle workshops across the UK.
Building business opportunities for members remained a key benefit of SMMT Membership with two new events in 2025 – Meet the Van Accessories in June, and Meet the Heavy Body Builder in September. We are now starting work on our plans for similar events in 2026.
In the summer, legislation was also passed by Parliament to remove the need for five hours of training to drive zero emission LCVs up to 4.25 tonnes – a key barrier in the new and zero emission LCV and minibus markets. With government announcing more legislative changes to these vehicles due in 2026, it is hoped we will see a strong year for these green machines in 2026.
The bus sector is also going though one of the biggest changes in decades, with the Better Buses Bill gaining Royal Assent in October. Local authorities now have more power over networks, fares, and service quality – and with the UK leading the zero emission bus market in Europe, it is hoped we will see even more green buses hitting UK roads in 2026.
Government’s ZEHID scheme, meanwhile, brought one of the biggest changes in 2025 with several HGV charging sites open across the UK. There are already lots more planned in 2026, with record numbers of HGVs registered.
Finally, my personal highlight from the year – apart from, of course, helping SMMT’s commercial vehicle members make the most of the opportunities and support we can provide! – is becoming a Guinness World Record holder, as part of the world’s largest van parade, held to mark 60 years of the Ford Transit.
We already have an exciting 2026 lined up, but for now, I wish you a peaceful Christmas and prosperous New Year.
