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UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations rose 0.6% in August to 14,445 units, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While August is typically a lower-volume month, with buyers waiting until the September numberplate change, the market still recorded its fifth consecutive month of growth. As a result, year-to-date registrations reached 201,671 units, up 4% on the first eight months of 2025.
Large vans drove the overall growth, rising for a ninth month, by 5.2% to 10,943 units. Demand in the small volume 4×4 sector also grew, by 165.6%, with 510 registrations. The medium- and small-sized van segments, however, both fell, by -3.9% and -15.1% to 2,289 and 299 units respectively. Pickups recorded the steepest decline of -61.2% to 404 units, down to just 2.8% of the market.
It was a strong month for electric van uptake, with registrations rising 25.9% to 2,395 units and a record 16.3% market share, although August’s typically low overall volumes can exaggerate percentage shifts.
Meanwhile, the new car market recorded its ninth consecutive month of growth and best August since the introduction of the biannual plate change, with registrations rising 13.7%. 94,236 new cars joined UK roads in what is typically one of the market’s quietest months of the year ahead of September’s number plate change.
Growth was recorded across all sales types. Fleet registrations rose 10.1% to account for 57.2% of the market, while private demand grew strongly, up 19% on last year to comprise 40.8% of registrations. The smaller business sector, representing 2% of the market, also posted an increase, up 14.5%.
Every powertrain except petrol saw growth, but electrified vehicles attracted the fastest gains. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) posted the strongest growth, up 39.8% to account for 14.5% of registrations, while hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) rose 26.3% with 12.7% of the market. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) increased 27.7% to claim 29.8% of overall uptake. This was the second highest monthly share of the year so far, following a recurring seasonal spike seen every August since 2023.
