Industry news

Following a rather gloomy 2022, the 2023 LCV sales race has started strongly, as registrations grew by 26% in January year-on-year.

The LCV market shrank by 20% in 2022, which concluded with a slow December in which 25% less light vans were sold compared to December 2021.

The light van market has now been in decline for two consecutive months, as sales numbers shrank by 22% in November.

After September growth, British LCV sales decreased by 18% year-on-year in October according to the SMMT's latest figures.

After successive months of declining sales, the LCV market actually grew by 11% in September, but this isn't as impressive as it seems.

August's LCV sales figures were the lowest of any month stretching back to 2017, as light van registrations fell by 25% year-on-year.

Falling van sales won’t be boosted by the new 72-plate changeover starting on the 1st of September, according to a new report.

The LCV market shrank for the seventh month in a row year-on-year in July, but monthly electric van registrations continued to grow.

New light commercial vehicle registrations fell by 23% in the month of June compared to the same time last year, as supply shortages continue.

New light commercial vehicle registrations fell by 25% in May compared to the same month last year, though electric sales continued to climb.

April 2021 saw the highest monthly registrations since records began, but this April's sales numbers are nowhere near as promising.

There were more light vans sold in March than January and February combined, but March sales were still down over 25% when compared to 2021.

Euro NCAP has named its safest vans on sale in 2022, by taking a look back at the 19 commercial vans crash tested in the last year.

Ford continued to dominate van registrations in the UK last year, the Transit Custom finishing as the best-selling van of 2021.

As part of Brexit, anyone using vans to transport goods in and out of the UK may need an international operator’s licence from May 2022.

Despite the semiconductor supply shortage, the new LCV market has just recorded the best November in its history.

The Renault Kangoo Van and Mercedes-Benz Citan have been named joint winners of the International Van of the Year 2022.

Supermarket brand Waitrose is preparing to trial a new fleet of Vauxhall Vivaro-e delivery vans, all fitted with wireless charging technology.

The LCV market declined 4.6% year-on-year in October, the second consecutive month of declining registrations, down in part to the global semiconductor shortage.

The global semiconductor shortage has been blamed for a big slide in new LCV registrations across the UK in September.

The UK van market saw its second-best August sales figures in 2021, in what is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year.

UK commercial vehicle production was up 39.6% year-on-year in June, but registrations are still significantly below the five-year average new figures have revealed.

The light commercial vehicle market growth was tempered after a bumper recovery in April and May, with supply issues impacting and helping to inflate prices.

Used van sales have surged in April, which shows that the economy is on the road to recovery, according to an online used vehicle supermarket.

The light commercial vehicle market recorded its busiest ever April as 30,440 new vans were registered, with the number of vans registered in 2021 back to 2019 levels, according to new figures.