Pick-up truck sales fall by 54% pulling total new LCV sales down in March
The UK’s new market for LCVs fell by 3.4% in March, with a total of 49,505 vans, pickups and 4x4s registered during the month.
That's according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders whose data shows that pick-up trucks were largely to blame for the falling figures.
The decline comes despite March typically being the busiest month of the year due to the new number plate change. As a result the 3.4% drop is the weakest March performance since 2023.
A sharp drop in pickup demand was the primary reason behind the downturn, with registrations falling 54% to just 3,732 units.
The slowdown has also weighed heavily on the year to date numbers where pick-up truck volumes are down 54.8% across Q1. The falling sales, a result of changes introduced in April 2025 to treat double-cab pickups as cars for Benefit in Kind and capital allowance purposes, represent a shortfall of nearly 7,000 units compared with the same period last year.
Construciton and farming segments have been particularly cautious in making new pick-up truck purchases.
However, manufacturers are responding to the tax changes with the introduction of HMRC compliant pick-up trucks like the Isuzu D-Max Commercial and the expected arrival of a Ford Ranger two-seat pick-up.
Read our Isuzu D-Max Commercial review
Pick-up truck sales aside, the van segments recorded growth.
Large vans, which make up the bulk of the market, rose 8.7% to 34,805 units, while medium vans increased 2.3% to 8,365 units.
The suprise increase, though, came from 4x4 registrations which climbed 41.3% to 1,871 units. That saw the Land Rover Defender Commercial reach the top 10 of most sold commercial vehicles to date. with a total of 2,208 units registered in 2026.
However, the small van segment saw a significant drop of 53.8% to 732 units, although this follows a strong performance in March last year and reflects the segment’s lower overall volumes.
Battery electric van registrations declined by 15.9% in March to 3,543 units, taking market share down to 7.1%. The lowest level since September 2024.
Diesel continues to dominate the market, accounting for 85.6% of all new LCV registrations.
Across the first quarter, electric van uptake has increased slightly, up 4.3%, but still represents just 9.0% of the overall market. That's well below the 24% share required under current ZEV Mandate.
The extension of the Plug-in Van Grant and new support for depot charging infrastructure are still yet to cause mass uptake in the van segment.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “A weak March is deeply concerning given this number plate change month often sets the tone for the year. Moreover, with fleet renewal now having contracted in 14 of the past 16 months, it reflects poorly on overall business confidence."
"A thriving market is essential not just to economic growth but to decarbonisation, and it is increasingly alarming to see BEV demand waning when it must accelerate to reach ever-tougher mandated levels. With the transition already falling behind schedule, a holistic review of the transition is urgently needed,” Hawes added.
The latest SMMT figures underline just how dominant the Ford Transit Custom remains in the UK market, topping both the March and year-to-date charts by a clear margin. With 7,715 registrations in March alone and 12,888 units year-to-date.
Behind it, the Ford Transit remains firmly in second place both monthly and year-to-date. The Transit recorded 3,667 units in March and 6,065 across the year so far, meaning the two Ford vans alone account for nearly 20,000 units.
The Peugeot Partner performed strongly in March with 2,896 registrations, placing it third for the month, although it drops to seventh year-to-date. Meanwhile, the Vauxhall Vivaro and Volkswagen Transporter are third and fourth respectively in the year-to-date standings.
Further down the table, models such as the Renault Trafic and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter appear in both monthly and total rankings.
Despite the declining market for pick-up truck sales, the Ford Ranger appears in both Top 10s and remains the highest-placed pickup in both monthly and year-to-date standings.
At the smaller end of the market, the Citroën Berlingo maintains a foothold in the top 10. The Land Rover Defender is the suprise of the year, though, as some buyers prefer to buy premium 4x4s still capable of meeting HMRC requirements, rather than conitnue with pick-up trucks.
