• New light commercial vehicle market declines by -10.3% with 315,422 registrations in 2025.
• All but lower-volume segments contract, including pick-ups after double cab tax change ends growth.
• EV demand rises 36.2% but still well below mandated level, with steep 2026 ambition requiring urgent review.
new LCV registrations December 2025
The UK’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market declined by -10.3% in 2025 with 315,422 vans, pickups and 4x4s registered, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Fleet renewal shrank in every month last year other than December, which posted a slight 1.7% rise, reflecting a challenging economic environment and weak business confidence.
Across the year, registrations of new medium-sized vans declined -20.7% to 51,639 units, while large vans dropped -9.8% to 210,262 but remained the most popular segment with a 66.7% share of the overall market. Pickups also ended the year down, by -0.7% with 37,308 registrations, despite growth in early 2025 to get ahead of government’s tax change – which now treats double cabs as cars for benefit in kind and capital allowance purposes.1 There was growth in the lower-volume segments, with registrations of small vans and 4x4s up 1.9% and 2.3% respectively, to 8,766 and 7,447 units. (....)