Sales of conventional vehicles surge while electric vehicles experience significant growth.

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【Summary】UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales in July increased by 44.2%, reaching the highest level since 2020. The demand for new vans, pickups, and 4x4s contributed to this growth. Additionally, there was a significant rise in the registration of battery electric vans (BEVs), with a 94.6% increase and a market share of 5.5%. However, urgent action is needed to reduce energy costs and provide dedicated van charging infrastructure to encourage even greater adoption of electric vehicles.

FutureCar Staff Aug 18, 2023 8:06 AM PT

Sales of conventional vehicles surge while electric vehicles experience significant growth.

The number of light commercial vehicles (LCV) registered in the UK continued to rise in July, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth. The registrations increased by 44.2% to reach a total of 26,990 units, making it the best July since 2020, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, registrations were also up by 4.4%. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for new vans, pickups, and 4x4s, as well as the easing of supply chain issues that had previously constrained production.

Furthermore, the demand for zero-emission commercial vehicles continued to soar. Battery electric vans (BEVs) witnessed a remarkable increase of 94.6%, with 1,489 units registered in July. This translates to a market share of 5.5%, a significant improvement from last year's 4.1%. In total, 10,292 BEVs have been registered so far in 2023, marking a 16.1% year-on-year increase. However, the market share for BEVs has slightly decreased from 5.4% to 5.2% in the year to date.

Mike Hawes, the chief executive of SMMT, expressed his satisfaction with the positive month for van sales. He emphasized the need to focus on increasing the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and highlighted the urgency to address the soaring energy costs and provide dedicated van charging infrastructure. These measures are crucial to boost operator confidence and meet the specific needs of the commercial vehicle sector. Hawes also mentioned that next year will see the implementation of a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which will set minimum sales targets for every brand.