UK van registrations fell sharply in November, with the light commercial vehicle market down 22.2% to 23,570 units, according to new SMMT data. It marks another month of reduced fleet replacement in 2025, leaving year-to-date volumes 11.4% lower than the same period last year.
Every major segment contracted: large vans dropped 19.7% (16,463 units), medium vans were down 20.5% (3,976 units), and small vans slumped 53.8% (462 units). Pick-ups recorded a second steep fall, down 34.8% to 1,964 units, following tax changes that now treat double-cabs as cars for benefit-in-kind and capital allowance purposes.
Battery electric vans were the exception. BEV registrations climbed 25.3% to 2,909 units, taking a 12.3% share of the market – the highest monthly proportion this year. BEV volumes are up 44.7% year to date (27,159 units), but their 9.4% share remains well below the government’s 16% ZEV mandate for 2025.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Lacklustre light commercial vehicle uptake highlights weak economic confidence… every lever must be pulled to support demand and protect industry investment.”