LCV registrations remain stable in May

Demand for new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) remained stable in May, with new registrations up just over 2% on the same time last year, and year-to-date registrations down just under 1%.

Results published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that there was growth in all van segments over two tonnes, although smaller vans under two tonnes were down significantly. Pick-ups were slightly down again, although this month’s 2.6% drop was nowhere near as much as last month’s 13% drop.

4x4s were again spectacularly above last year’s score, thanks largely to the arrival of new players on the market when there was almost nothing available this time last year.

It has been an up-and-down ride for the LCV market in each of the segments this year so far, but the net result has been that the overall market is only just over 1% below the first five months of last year.

Small vans continue to decline in popularity as operators move towards larger vans, with the loss of sub-2.0-tonne vans more than made up for by the growth in the 2.0-to-2.5-tonne sector.

The market is still in decent health, with the SMMT pointing out that registrations are still a third higher than they were five years ago.

In case anyone was wondering, the Ford Transit Custom remained at the top of the sales heap for approximately the millionth month in a row over its larger Ford Transit stablemate.