CONTINUES TO GROW NEW LCV MARKET


The UK new LCV market saw year- on-year growth for the 10th month in a row in October.


According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), registrations were up by 17.7% last month with 26,342 LCVs registered and also up by 3.8% compared with pre-pandemic 2019.


The 2.5–3.5-tonne van segment saw registrations rise by 5.3% last month to 18,176, while 2.0–2.5t vans shot up by 106.1% to 3,801 registrations. Vans weighing less than 2.0t,


however, were down by 20.4% with 438 registered.


Pick-up truck registrations were up by 41.1% to 3,312, while four-by-fours were up by 61.4% to 615.


Electric van registrations were down by 20.2% year-on-year, accounting for


5.2% of the market. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes


said: “As the crucial pre-Christmas delivery period commences, there is a clear appetite for fleets to be fitted out with the latest vans – and it is of critical importance that those vans are the latest, cleanest zero-emission models. “With van makers committed to decarbonisation, the upcoming Autumn Statement is the moment for the government to send the right signal to operators ahead of the introduction of the ZEV mandate.


“Measures that address van-specific infrastructure challenges and enable more operators across the UK to make the switch are essential as we move towards a pivotal stage of the transition.” Following the latest sales figures


release, the SMMT has upwardly revised


its whole-year LCV registrations forecast to 332,000 units, an increase of 1.4% compared with the previous forecast that was issued in July. However, anticipated electric van registrations have been cut by -9.0% on the previous outlook to 21,000 units. In 2024, the SMMT is forecasting 334,000 new LCV registrations, including 34,000 EVs.


The October sales chart was topped


by the Ford Transit Custom with 2,841 registrations, ahead of the Ford Transit with 2,148, and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with 1,743.


Completing the top 10 were the


Volkswagen Transporter (1,658 registrations), Vauxhall Vivaro (1,527), Ford Ranger (1,416), Renault Trafic (977), Toyota Hilux (869), Maxus Deliver 9 (783), and Citroën Berlingo (760).


WITH MAXUS EVS G.NETWORK CONNECTS


The order includes 80 eDeliver 3 and 20 eDeliver 9 vans and was made via Maxus dealer HTC Van Centre. G.Network’s fleet manager, Aaron Cartey said: “Every day, G.Network field engineers travel around the heart of London, connecting homes and


B


roadband provider G.Network has bought 100 electric vans from Harris Maxus.


businesses to our 100% fibre network. It is our priority that we work safely and sustainably, so we are delighted to partner with Maxus to bolster our fleet of electric vans.


“Our fleet is a key part of our carbon reduction plan that not only improves our business productivity, but the customer experience of the Londoners [who] we serve.”


Harris Maxus’ managing director, Mark Barrett said: “We’re proud to be supporting businesses such as G.Network to electrify and future-proof its fleet. Now is the time for companies to make the switch to electric, particularly businesses like G.Network that work in the London zone and have to contend with [the] recently extended ULEZ.”


In another deal for Maxus, Peel Ports has added four electric T90 pick-up trucks to its fleet via its leasing partner, Activa.


The G.Network order includes 80 eDeliver 3 vans.


The vehicles are for use by the ports’ security service, run in conjunction with and staffed by the police. Peel Ports chose the T90s to achieve reduced emissions as well as lower operating costs. Peel Ports’ group head of asset management, Malcolm Oliver-White said: “These police vehicles align perfectly with our environmental responsibility goals and demonstrate our commitment to a more sustainable future.”


@whatvan


The Commercial Vehicle Show 2024, which will take place at the NEC Birmingham from 23–25 April, will introduce a conference covering decarbonisation, including electrification and hydrogen, skills and recruitment, and technical updates. The focus on decarbonisation comes against the backdrop of the EU being expected to implement new emissions standards for conventional truck and van engines from 2027.


There are now more than 50,000 public EV chargers in the UK, according to Zapmap. The company said the landmark 50,000th charger was an ultra-rapid device operated by MFG EV Power installed at a service station in Weston-super-Mare. Zapmap said the milestone demonstrates the accelerating rate of charger installation, with the 40,000th having arrived in February this year.


Industrial services provider Altrad has added 150 new Ford LCVs to its fleet, supplied through ALD Automotive/LeasePlan UK and TrustFord. The order is comprised of 100 Transit Connect compact vans and 50 Transit large van dropside vehicles. TrustFord will also supply aftersales support to Altrad, including through its mobile service offering.


Leasing company Alphabet has supplied six new vans to English Heritage, following its recent appointment as sole supplier of the charity’s fleet. The Nissan Primastar vans feature promotional liveries applied by Mediafleet. Alphabet has been working with the charity to streamline its wider fleet, which includes a mix of owned, leased and rented vehicles.


November 2023 WhatVan? 5 At a glance


Renault Group and Volvo Group have created a new company to develop electric vans. The partnership, which will be joined by CMA CGM, will build vehicles on a fully- electric LCV skateboard platform designed to offer a high level of modularity to support different vehicle body types. The partnership claims the new vehicles will enable logistics companies to reduce operating costs by 30%. The first new vehicles are due to arrive in 2026.


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