Following a concerning 21% sales decline in January, the British light van market recorded 19% less sales in February year-on-year, as growth in the electric van sales surged.
According to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), over 14,000 new LCVs arrived on British roads last month, this being more than 3,000 less registrations than the same month last year.
This marks the third month of consecutive registrations decline for the new light van market after a disappointing December and January performance, the SMMT commenting that shrinking sales numbers are caused by “weak business confidence ahead of upcoming tax changes.”
Looking at the February sales results in more detail, registrations fell in almost every category when compared to February 2024. Compact vans (under two tonnes) was the only sector that grew, recording 55% more sales year-on-year. Sales of mid-sized vans (between two and two-and-a-half tonnes) dropped by 33%, while large van registrations (between two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half tonnes) fell by 19%.
The sales of 4x4s dropped by close to half, while the February pickups sales total also fell by 5% when compared to the same month last year.
Electric van market share on the up
In stark contrast to the LCV market at large, the electric van (BEV) sector has recorded a substantial 55% registrations increase, following January’s 12% all-electric sales bump. This is a promising start for the BEV market, and further growth is anticipated in the coming months, but will this be enough to meet government mandated sales targets?
The government’s Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme targeted a BEV market share of 16% for each brand by the end of 2024. For the market overall, electric vans currently account for 10% of the total number of new registrations in February. By comparison, electric models accounted for 25% of new sales in the car market last month.
So, why is the BEV market not growing like the electric car market? The SMMT has praised the government’s decision to extend the Plug-in Van Grant into the next financial year, but argues that increasing the rollout of charging stations – including van-specific charging infrastructure – will increase consumer BEV interest.
Good month, bad month
Very few manufacturers in the LCV space will look on February’s registration results favorably, with almost every significant marque recording notable sales nosedives when compared to the second month of 2024.
Holding the biggest market share, Ford were perhaps the biggest winners last month. Bucking the overall sales trend, Ford registrations grew by 5% year-on-year, but this is 24% above the market average. Nissan increased its registration numbers by 30%, and while they are smaller players in the van sector, the likes of MAN and KGM Motors more than doubled their sales tallies in January year-on-year.
Conversely, Maxus sales dived by 69%, Fiat sales dropped by 61%, Citroën registrations halved, and Dacia sold one solitary LCV in February, down 96%. It also wasn’t a healthy month of sales for the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. All of these brands underachieved compared to the overall market by at least 10%.
Ford still the UK’s most popular LCV choice
Fresh off being crowned the UK’s best selling LCV at the end of 2024 with a rather ridiculous 28,000-model sales lead over its closest market competitor, the Ford Transit Custom has started 2025 in strong form. In fact, the popular mid-sized van is over 2,200 sales ahead of its larger Transit sibling in second after two months of sales.
The Ranger pick-up isn’t far behind in third place, while the Vauxhall Vivaro and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter occupy fourth and fifth. The Vivaro has started to pick up notable sales form – finishing second in February’s sales leaderboard, but the Vauxhall is still around 3,000 sales behind the Transit Custom.
The Sprinter is followed by the Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, Renault Trafic, Peugeot Expert and the Ford Transit Courier which completes the top ten sales standings.
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