LCV demand grows 7.8 percent in December

“It was encouraging to see registrations of light commercial vehicle increase by 7.8% this December, especially as December is traditionally a quiet month,” said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association which represents franchised commercial vehicle and car retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT’s light commercial vehicle registration figures.

A total of 27,551 LCVs were registered this December, with 25,549 registered in the same period last year.

Registrations of vans weighing 2.0-2.5 tonnes increased by 39.7%, with vans under 2.0 tonnes increasing by 7.7%, and those between 2.5-3.5 tonnes increasing by 4.2%. 4x4s saw no change in registrations, with 92 both this December and December 2018. The only category to fall was pickups, from 3,745 in December 2018 to 3,701 in December 2019 – a 1.2% decrease.

The Ford Transit Custom was the best-selling van of December, with 3,600 units sold. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was the second-highest seller at 1,931 units, with the Volkswagen Transporter closely following with 1,911 sales.

Robinson added, “The light commercial market has bucked the trend throughout 2019, ending up 2.4% from 2018, indicating the buyers understand that new Euro-6 diesel engines emit less CO2 than their petrol equivalents, and are much more economical.

“With all the economic and political uncertainty this year, it is extremely positive to see continual growth in the light commercial market.”