15 July 2025
The UK’s new light-commercial vehicle (LCV) market continued its downward path once again in June, capping the worst first half results since 2022. Andy Picton, specialist residual value analyst at Glass’s, analyses the market with Autovista24 web editor James Roberts.
June saw another month of decline for the UK’s new LCV market. A total of 28,173 new vans, pickups and chassis variants reached customers in the month, marking a 14.8% year-on-year drop.
Demand shrank across all sectors, except for those in the 2-tonne gross vehicle weight (GVW) and under category. These registrations rose 22% in June, whilst the market for vans and chassis between 2.5 and 3.5 GVW contracted by 10%. The 19,501 new registrations recorded were 2,176 units fewer than June 2024. Despite this, these vehicles remain the most popular in the LCV market, representing 69.2% of all units registered in the UK.
Vans weighing between 2 and 2.5 tonnes GVW experienced the sharpest slump at 41.5%. The pickup sector fell 0.8% year-on-year in June.
At the halfway point of 2025, LCV registrations are 12.1% lower than 12 months prior, at 156,048 units. This underlines the poorest opening half of a year since 2022 for the UK market.
Large vans and chassis registrations were down 14.8% to 99,790 units. Following this trend, deliveries of medium- sized vans dropped 20.9% to 26,408 units.
Small vans did see an increase in demand over the six-month period, increasing up 30.7% to 4,907 units. Pickups, meanwhile, recorded notable growth, up 10% to 20,902 units. However, this upswing hides a decline following April’s introduction of new fiscal measures, treating double cabs as cars for benefit in kind (BIK) and capital allowance purposes.
Ford top of the LCV pile
Ford occupied the top two places in June’s best-selling LCV chart. The Transit Custom topped the pile with 4,555 units registered, 1,677 ahead of its stablemate, the Transit on 2,878 units. The Renault Trafic ended the month in third with 1,477 units delivered. In fourth spot, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter amassed 1,414 units, whilst the Toyota Hilux took fifth with 1,163 registrations.
Outside the top five came the Volkswagen (VW) Transporter with 1,130 units in sixth. Then, the Peugeot Expert claimed seventh with 1,083 deliveries, and the VW Crafter ended up eighth with 1,002 units.
Another pair of Ford vehicles rounded out the top 10. The Ford Ranger slotted into ninth with 961 registrations, whilst the Ford Transit Courier finished 10th with 902 units taking to the UK’s roads in June.
Electric LCV market share increases
While the internal-combustion engine (ICE) LCV market saw sizeable declines, things were quite different for electrified vans. June signalled the ninth straight month of increased battery-electric van registrations up to 4.25 tonnes GVW. A total of 3,003 units were registered in June, compared with 1,524 deliveries 12 months before. This equates to a monthly market share of 10.6%, up from 4.6% in June 2024.
Year-to-date battery-electric van registrations highlight a strong upward trend, with 13,512 units taking to the UK’s roads. This is an increase from 8,845, recorded at the halfway point in 2024. Consequently, battery-electric LCVs now hold an 8.6% share of the overall market, up from 5% percent, a 3.6 percentage points (pp) improvement from the same time last year.
Manufacturers are continuing to invest heavily in decarbonisation with over 40 different zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) available on the UK market. Despite these options, the uptake of battery-electric options within the UK LCV market remains at just over half of the 2025 ZEV mandate target.
The UK government’s recent spending review, outlining further details of support, is still to be finalised. Many businesses are continuing to feel held back, due to a lack of investment in LCV-suitable charging infrastructure at public charging sites, depots, and shared hub locations. Consistent and efficient local planning is required to ensure that operators will have the confidence to transition fully to a zero-emission future.
Electrified LCV best-sellers
Ford led the way in the electrified LCV stakes, accounting for 37.5% of new all-electric vans registered in June. This total kept the brand well ahead of Peugeot in second, with 18.6%, and VW in third, achieving a 15.6% share.
Toyota came in fourth, with an 6.8% market share, and Mercedes-Benz fifth with 6.3% of the market. Further down the list, Vauxhall ended June in sixth with 94 units, a 3.1% market share, and Renault in seventh with 78 registrations, equating to a 2.6% share.
Nissan assumed eighth place, registering 73 units and a 2.4% slice of the market, whilst Maxus ended up ninth with 65 units and a 2.2% market share. Finally, Citroen rounded out the top 10 with 56 units and a 1.8% portion of the battery-electric van market. Newcomers Farizon finished the month in 11th, registering 36 vehicles.
Models on the up
By model range, 25.3% of all-new electric vans registered in June were Ford E-Transit Customs. This accounted for 759 registrations. The Peugeot e-Expert ended up second with a 12.9% share and 388 units, whilst and the VW ID. Buzz Cargo came in third with 365 units and 12.2% market share.
The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter was the sixth best-seller, with 138 units, giving it a 4.6% share, with the Ford E-Transit Courier in seventh after 134 deliveries and a 4.5% hold. The VW e-Transporter closed the month in eighth with 104 units and a 3.4% share, whilst the Nissan Townstar Electric finished ninth with 69 units, taking2.3% of the market. The Vauxhall Vivaro closed the top 10 with 53 units (1.7%) share.
At the halfway point of the year, Ford has accounted for over a quarter of all new battery-electric LCVs, with a 26.5% of the market. VW have contributed a 19.2% share over two different product ranges.
The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) van segment saw Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen register a combined 1,098 units. Ford topped the rankings with 646 Transit Custom PHEVs sold, while the Transit Connect accounted for 203 units. Finally, 68 Ranger PHEVs made their way off the production line to customers. Toyota followed with 177 Corolla Commercials, while VW added four Caddy PHEVs.
In the year to date, 4,853 full-hybrid LCVs have been registered, with Ford claiming a dominant 76.4% share.
Used LCV market overview
June provided a steady period for the used LCV market, with sales only slightly down from May. This can be attributed to concerns over the economy, plus the warm summer weather slowing the market.
Strengths and weaknesses were evident. Small vans comprised a quarter of June’s LCV sales, offering ample choice, with higher-spec models drawing the most interest.
Vehicle sales dipped for the fourth consecutive month, down 4.8% on May. However, stock offered in June was, on average, 2.8 months younger and had 1,575 fewer miles. Sales of stock less than two-years-old stock increased, pushing average sale prices up by just over £200 (€230) overall. First-time conversion rates also rose to 82.1%.
Year-on-year sales are up 14.6%, whilst sales prices are 9% higher. Average mileage at 73,915 miles (118,954 kilometres) is over 6,500 miles lower than 12 months previously. The average age is 9.1 months younger than one year ago, and first-time conversions have increased 12.7%.
Sales of Euro 6 vehicles were boosted to 86.6% in June, while sales of Euro 5 stock fell 1.5% to 10.8%. Medium vans led demand with 37.7% of sales, followed by small vans with a 26.5% market share, and large vans taking a 23.1% share.
The 4×4 Pickup sector took 12.7% of the market, commanding the highest average sales price at £12,830, up 3.5% on June 2024. Large vans covered more distance than any other vehicle type in June at an average of 81,444 miles, down 1,952 miles when compared with May.
Used electric vans increase
Sales of used electric vans made up 2.5% of the overall auction market in June. Their average age fell by 6.6 months to 34.2 months, and sat 10.9 months below the 45.1-month average seen one year ago.
Mileage dropped to 18,055 from 20,010 miles last month, however this was still 14.2% higher than in June last year. First-time conversion rates increased by 1.5% to 60.9%, while average sale prices jumped nearly 14% to just over £10,000.
The pickup sector accounted for 32.8% of sales, whilst small and medium van sectors took 28.1% each. Small vans covered the highest mileages, averaging 28,925 miles, with the lowest in the pickup sector averaging 5,461 miles. Large electric vans attained the highest average sales price of £13,228, down from £14,500 in May. A conversion rate of 76.2% was the highest for the month and was achieved pickup sector.
Used LCV retail market falls
Used vehicle listings in the retail market dropped by nearly 7% in June, settling at just over 45,100 units. Diesel models, though down 0.7% in offerings, maintained strong appeal at 91.4% of the market. Battery-electric LCVs secured a 4.9% share, ahead of petrol with 2.3% and plug-in hybrids with 1.1%.
Regarding pricing, 40% of listed vehicles were £20,000 or more, with 36.7% priced between £10,000 and £20,000. Those in the £5,000 to £10,000 range accounted for an 18.4% share, while only 4.9% were under £5,000.
Following changes to BIK taxation, nearly 15% of all available LCVs were 4×4 pickups. White vans dominated popularity, making up over half of listings. Grey followed at 16.8%, trailed by black, silver, and blue. The average vehicle age decreased to 55 months, and mileage also fell by 3.8% to 54,600 miles.
