Light commercial vehicle registrations fell by 22% in November compared to the same month last year, while the new electric van market bucked the overall trend with a 25% sales uptick, according to numbers published this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The new LCV market is still yet to recorded a single month of overall sales growth since the turn of the year, with no respite in sight for the industry, and registrations have declined by 11% so far across 2025. While the SMMT and other industry lobbyists continue to call for more EV subsidies from the government, this overlooks the fact that diesel van sales are falling (down 52,100 units year-to-date) much faster than electric van sales are growing (up 8,600 units year-to-date).
Sales fell across all size categories last month, apart from the small 4×4 sector which grew by 10%. The medium (2.0 to 2.5 tonnes) and large van (2.5 to 3.5 tonnes) segments – typically the most popular van categories with UK buyers – fell by 21% and 20% respectively, while small van (2.0 to 2.5 tonnes) registrations declined by 54%. Pickup sales also shrank by 35% year-on-year.
Despite the general registrations doom and gloom, the all-electric (BEV) market recorded a 25% sales surge last month, following on from a 6% sales fall in October. Electric vans account for 9% of all sales annually, which is still significantly short of the government’s 16% target.
Good month, bad month
With an overall market decline of 22% compared to last September, most of the market’s biggest sellers suffered. But it wasn’t the same for everyone.
In terms of sales up to 3.5 tonnes, it was a good month for Volkswagen and Toyota – which grew its van sales by 33% and 31% respectively – as well as smaller LCV brands Fuso, KGM, MAN, Isuzu trucks, Ineos and Renault Trucks. All of these brands outperformed the overall LCV market by at least 10%. It was a particularly promising month for Nissan, which grew its sales numbers by 116%.
Meanwhile, things were not as happy for Fiat, Isuzu, Iveco, Peugeot, Maxus, and Vauxhall. All of these brands underachieved against the overall market by at least 10%.
Ford, which hold the biggest share of the new van market by some margin, performed at around the market average, recording a 21% sales dip. Likewise, the following brands were about where you’d expect them to be: Citroën, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Renault. All of these brands had results that were within +/- 10% of the overall market.
Should we just call it now?
To pretty much no-one’s surprise, the Ford Transit Custom took the sales top spot in November – as it has literally every month of the year to date. With over 18,000 more sales than any other model, the mid-sized panel van has been by far and away the most popular commercial motoring choice in 2025
A testament to Ford’s dominance in the LCV market, the brand locked out the best-selling top two in November, with the Transit Custom leading the larger Transit in second. The best selling model that wasn’t a Ford was the new Volkswagen Transporter in last month’s race, which is yet to enter the annual top ten.
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