UK deliveries of new LCVs dropped 15.1% in October, reflecting a contraction in fleet renewals.

A total of 22,896 vans, pickups and 4x4s were registered last month, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The decline follows a 2.1% downturn in September despite the shift to the new ‘75’ numberplate, although the new plate month had brought a big rise in electric van uptake.

The SMMT said October’s decline was set against a backdrop of weak business confidence and a tough economic environment.

Declines were recorded across all van sizes during the month. Registrations of the largest LCVs fell 7.0% to 16,443 units but still represented the majority (71.8%) of the overall market.

Medium- and small-sized vans also fell; down by 41.2% and 23.4% to 3,347 and 523 units respectively. But the smaller-volume 4×4 segment increased, with registrations up 88.0% to 440 units.

Demand for new pickups, however, declined by 20.2% to 2,143 units, reflecting the impact of new fiscal measures to treat double cabs as cars for Benefit-in-Kind and capital allowance purposes.

Battery electric van (BEV) uptake was also down, falling 5.8% to 2,132 units in the first decline for over a year. But the fall was far from the 15.1% contraction seen across the new van market and meant that BEV market share edged up to 9.2%.

In the year to date, BEV volumes have increased by almost half (47.4%) to 24,250 units – significant growth bucking the trend of overall market decline, which the SMMT said was due to manufacturers investing heavily in new model rollouts. But BEVs still represented just 9.1% of all new registrations across the first 10 months of 2025 – well below the 16% share mandated, which rises to 24% in 2026.

The latest market outlook is out now and continues to expect the new LCV market to reach 321,000 units in 2025, a decline of 8.7% on last year. Uptake is anticipated to grow 4.2% to 334,600 units in 2026 and a further 0.6% in 2027.

Demand for zero-emission LCVs weighing up to 3.5 tonnes is anticipated to grow by 47% this year to achieve a 9.7% market share, growing to 14% in 2026.

The SMMT spotlighted this year’s positive announcements for electric vans – including the Government allowing new, non-zero emission and plug-in hybrid vans to stay on sale up to 2035, the extension of the Plug-in Van Grant, the new Depot Charging Scheme, and last month’s proposal to reform planning rules for private charger installations. It’s called for such changes to be implemented urgently to ensure mandated ambitions are deliverable.

And the industry body said planning reform must also go further, specifically to support depot-based operators who require grid connections before switching fleets to electric. Such operators often face grid connection wait times of up to 15 years, and a fast-tracked approval process, as already used for data centres and wind farms, would help give business confidence to invest for a timely transition.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, commented: “While October’s decline is unsurprising amid the intense economic pressure facing businesses, returning the van market to growth is essential – especially to underpin new investment in zero-emission models, which until now had bucked wider trends.

“Every lever must be pulled to get the market back on track, and transitioned at mandated levels.

“Accelerating infrastructure rollout and grid connections, in particular, will help ensure government targets are not just an aspiration but are actually deliverable for manufacturers and operators alike.”

Electric van manufacturer Flexis, the joint venture between Renault Group, Volvo Group and CMA CGM, also commented on the figures, flagging up the 47.9% year-on-year growth in new eLCV (< 3.5-tonne) registrations as a promising sign of a momentum shift towards zero-emission commercial vehicles.

Matt Hawkins, head of Flexis UK&I, said: “As e-commerce continues to grow, the air quality, cost-saving and operational efficiency benefits of electric vans are becoming increasingly valued by logistics fleets – particularly for those entering their busiest period of the year. With the right infrastructure, supportive policies and continued innovation, businesses are realising that the transition to electric vans is not only achievable, but a real business advantage.”