BORROWED TIME? LIVING ON


The double-cab lifestyle pick-up market has been granted a reprieve from proposed tax hikes but is the writing on the wall? James Dallas reports


Sector Analysis Pick-ups


ight commercial vehicle sales grew by more than 11% to 52,916 overall in the strongest March plate-change month for three years, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) but the pick-up sector had to make do with a far more modest rise of 0.1% to 5,767, which equated to just three more pick-ups finding homes than in March 2023.


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The 8.1% sales increase to 10,664 in the first quarter of the year looked healthier, however. The Ford Ranger was the third best- selling LCV in both March (2,881) and the year-to-date (5,106) – the only pick-up to feature in the top 10 lists. The niche 4x4 van sector increased by 29.1% to 1,632 sales in March and by 43.3% to 2,663 sales in the first three months of 2024.


Manufacturers of double-cab pick-


ups, which dominate the sector in the UK due to demand for ‘lifestyle’ models, endured a fright in February when the government announced it was to withdraw the tax break that underpins


@whatvan


the market’s popularity by changing the classification of double-cab pick- ups with a payload of at least 1.0- tonne from commercial vehicle to car, meaning they would have been liable to far higher BIK (benefit-in-kind) and VAT tariffs. Within a week, however, the sector was granted a reprieve when the government made a U-turn on its proposed changes. With a General Election looming this year though, it remains to be seen whether a future administration would look again at the tax legislation. Shoreham Vehicle Auctions (SVA) has proposed a new tax on pick-up trucks that cost more than £35,000 excluding VAT. SVA said it had consulted with


dealers, fleets, and SMEs before announcing its ‘luxury’ tax proposal, which it said would designate expensive pick-ups as being recreational rather than business vehicles. SVA MD Alex Wright said: “The


industry must consult with HMRC to get the right decision over the line. “HMRC is looking to settle a taxation


issue that has been bubbling for more than two decades. It wants to get rid of the grey areas that are in place that encourage tax avoidance, which we can understand.” According to SVA, its proposal would also help rental and leasing companies by protecting residual values of business vehicles and enabling them to predict future values more accurately. In product news, Isuzu has revealed a new limited-run version of its D-Max pick-up. Based on the flagship V-Cross, only 300 examples of the Steel Edition will be produced. With an eye on the future, Isuzu has unveiled a new, fully-electric version of its D-Max in prototype form (pictured). Badged the D-Max BEV, it features a 177hp, four- wheel drive electric powertrain, with a


CALENDAR


Grenadier Quartermaster Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Steel Isuzu D-Max BEV


March 2024 May 2024 (est) 2026


66.9kWh battery. The model, which boasts a 1t payload and 3.5t towing capacity, is set to launch in selected mainland European markets next year, with expansion to other countries, including the UK, dependent upon market demand and the development of EV charging infrastructure. Off-roader manufacturer Ineos Automotive has launched a new chassis cab version of its Grenadier Quartermaster pick-up. It says the five-seat double cab model is aimed at specialist vehicle converters and commercial body builders.


The chassis cab features an exposed ladder frame behind the passenger cabin, and boasts a 3,500kg towing capacity.


May 2024 WhatVan?


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