Demand for new vans rises in September but EV uptake falls again

Britain’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew for the second month running in September, up 8.3 per cent to record the best performance for the month in four years, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Some 48,455 new vans, 4x4s and pickups were registered as more businesses invested in fleet renewal than any month this year bar March, encouraged by the introduction of the new ‘74’ numberplate. It means 267,339 new LCVs have joined UK roads this year, up 3.6 per cent on 2023 and the largest January-September volume since 2019.