Light commercial vehicle registrations are continuing their downward trend in 2025, according to numbers published this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Overall numbers were down by 12% compared to the same month last year, with large vans particularly suffering.
It was the sixth month of consecutive LCV registrations decline year-on-year in May, with no respite in sight for the industry. Like April, 4×4 vehicles did show improvement compared to last May, but their gains were swallowed up by much larger falls in van registrations.
There continues to be growth in electric vans uptake, with a 44% increase in battery-powered LCV sales last month. That said, electric vans still only account for 8% of the overall market, meaning the industry is well behind the government’s 2025 EV mandate target of 16%.
The biggest decline in May was in the large diesel LCV segment (2.5 to 3.5 tonnes), which was down 14% on the same month last year. Small (under 2.0 tonnes) and mid-size (2.0 to 2.5 tonnes) vans were both down 8% and 9% respectively. Pick-up registrations also fell by 13%, though 4×4 sales grew by 37%.
In year-to-date terms, the overall market is down by about 12%, thanks to sluggish sales for mid-size and large vans. While the SMMT and other industry lobbyists continue to bang the table for more EV subsidies from the government, this overlooks the fact that diesel van sales are falling (down 22,300 units year-to-date) much faster than electric van sales are growing (up 3,200 units year-to-date).
Good month, bad month
Despite an overall market slump of 12% compared to last May, it wasn’t the same for everyone.
In terms of sales up to 3.5 tonnes, it was a good month for Peugeot, Land Rover, and MAN. All of these brands outperformed the overall LCV market by at least 10%. It was a particularly successful month for Toyota, which boosted its year-on-year sales by 131% in May.
Meanwhile, things were not as happy for Dacia, Fiat, Ineos, Iveco, KGM, Maxus, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Vauxhall and Volkswagen. All of these brands underachieved against the overall market by at least 10% (in other words, their registrations were down by at least 25%)
That means that the following brands were about where you’d expect them to be: Citroën, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Isuzu Trucks, and Nissan. All of these brands had results that were within +/- 10% of the overall market.
As usual, Ford was dominant, accounting for 35% of the market but with almost 1,300 fewer units shifted than last May. Toyota was the star brand of the month in this segment, with more than 1,000 additional registrations over the same month last year.
In the much smaller heavy CV market (3.5 to 6.0 tonnes), the overall market was up by 16%. Ford led this market growth with a 92% uptick in sales, while Mercedes-Benz heavy CV sales fell by 41%.
Ford Transit Custom extends its lead at the top
To pretty much no-one’s surprise, the popular Ford Transit Custom has topped the monthly LCV sales leaderboard – as it has every month since the year began. The Transit Custom was followed by the larger Transit in seconds and the Peugeot Partner in third.
Despite finishing a uncharacteristic eighth in May, the Vauxhall Vivaro remains the most popular LCV option that isn’t a Ford in the annual rankings, siting in fourth behind the Ford Ranger, which is the UK’s best-selling pickup by a country mile.
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