New light commercial vehicle market falls

SMMT: BEV demand rises to 10.4% share but significantly behind 24% target for 2026

New light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations fell by -7.8% in the first month of 2026 with 17,562 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This marks the weakest start to a year since 2012’s 16,049 registrations and reflects a tough economic environment, with weak business confidence constraining fleet investment.

The decline was driven by a -57.0% slump in demand for new pickups to 1,206 units, following government fiscal changes to treat double cabs as cars for benefit in kind and capital allowance purposes, which industry warned would heap additional costs onto buyers.

Demand for medium vans also fell, by -27.4% to 2,547 units, while the lower volume small van segment contracted by -39.8% to 402 units. Only large vans and 4x4s posted growth, up 10.0% to 12,696 units and 33.9% to 711 respectively.

Headline growth in electric van registrations was positive, with uptake rising 26.0% to 1,844 units. With a market share of 10.4%, however, demand would have to more than double to meet the mandated target of 24% in 2026. Delivering such growth in a weak overall market, and despite more than half of all models now available as EVs, with unprecedented discounts on their sale, poses an immense challenge.

The SMMT says the latest industry outlook for 2026 has been revised downwards, with 321,000 units expected to be delivered this year – still a 1.9% increase on 2025, but a significant softening from the 335,000 anticipated in the previous October outlook. Similarly, while the latest BEV outlook expects more than 50% growth this year, the market share has been revised down to 13.1%, from the 14.0% share expected in the last outlook.

The SMMT welcomed last year’s extension of funding for the Plug-in Van Grant until 2027, but argues clarity is needed on the timing, scale and conditions of support beyond April this year. The new Depot Charging Scheme and proposed planning reform for private charger installations will help the transition, but the SMMT says further action is necessary given critical barriers remain, including stubbornly high energy costs, a paucity of van-suitable public charging, and lengthy waiting times for depot-to-grid connections.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “January’s decline in new van uptake reflects ongoing economic and fiscal conditions which are limiting demand, particularly for pickups, as industry had warned. Rising EV uptake is encouraging but delivering the UK’s world-leading ambition is coming at huge cost to industry amid overall market contraction. With an even steeper 2026 target that is further still from real-world demand, government’s review of the transition must come urgently, recognising additional action is needed to deliver on ambition.”