UK van sales grow in May as large van demand rises but pickup registrations plunge
The UK’s light commercial vehicle market grew for a second consecutive month in May, but the headline increase masks a growing divide between large vans, electric models and pickup trucks.
According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 23,620 new vans, pickups and 4x4s were registered during May, up 3.6% on the same month last year. It marks the first time since 2024 that the market has recorded back-to-back months of growth.
However, almost all of that growth came from one segment.
Large vans enjoyed a bumper month, with registrations climbing 18.6% to 17,380 units. They now account for almost three quarters (73.6%) of the entire UK LCV market, up from 64.3% a year ago, underlining fleet demand for vehicles in the 2.5-3.5 tonne sector.
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Medium van registrations fell 7.5% to 3,762 units, while the small van sector continued its long-term decline, dropping 24.5% to just 508 registrations.
The biggest casualty, however, remains the pickup market.
Registrations fell by another 57.7% in May to just 1,138 units, marking an eighth consecutive monthly decline. Pickups now represent just 4.8% of the UK LCV market, less than half their 11.8% share recorded in May last year.
The SMMT continues to attribute the collapse to changes introduced in April 2025 that classify double-cab pickups as company cars for Benefit in Kind tax purposes. The industry argues the revised tax treatment has significantly increased ownership costs for businesses in sectors such as agriculture, forestry and construction, and is calling on the Government to reverse the decision.
Battery electric vans continued to move in the opposite direction.
Registrations increased 35.5% year-on-year to 2,345 units during May, lifting market share to 9.8%, compared with 7.6% a year ago.
Despite that strong growth, electric van adoption remains well behind the pace required to meet the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.
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BEVs represented 11.1% of registrations in April but slipped back below 10% in May, leaving the market a long way short of the Government’s 24% target for 2026. Across the year to date, battery electric vans account for just 9.5% of all new LCV registrations.
Manufacturers now offer electric versions of more than half of all van models on sale, supported by significant retail incentives and the Government’s Plug-in Van Grant. However, the SMMT says high purchase prices, energy costs and insufficient public charging infrastructure continue to restrict wider fleet adoption.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Two months of LCV market growth is good news, but the overall outlook remains challenging.
“Battery electric van uptake is rising, but not fast enough to match regulatory ambition, while the collapse in pickup demand shows how quickly tax policy can hit key sectors. If the transition is to succeed, regulation, infrastructure and incentives must be aligned with the realities of the market.”
May’s figures reinforce a trend that has become increasingly clear during 2026. Demand for conventional large vans remains resilient, electric van registrations continue to rise from a relatively low base, while the pickup market is still grappling with the consequences of last year’s tax changes.
