Record number of commercial vehicles on UK roads

As these commercial vehicles provide essential services for our supply chains, public services and transport networks, it’s essential that Britain ensures it sustains a robust and capable fleet.

LCVs was the fastest growing vehicle category, rising 1.4% year-on-year to more than 5,175,000. Since 2015 it has risen by 29.2%.

HGVs are up 0.2%, with more than 626,000 in operation and UK-made models proving the most popular as they represent a quarter of the truck fleet.

Early progress is being made in LCVs and HGVs to electrify; around 100,000 battery electric vans are in operation, and more than 1,000 electric HGVs have been registered to date.

But it is still a far cry from the mandate, which stipulates that 24% of new vans registered this year need to be zero emission. A more encouraging environment for operating zero emission fleets is essential, particularly by providing more accessible depot and public infrastructure.

Logistics UK’s Head of Decarbonisation Lamech Solomon said: “SMMT’s data shows how commercial vehicles are the backbone of the UK economy, providing essential services to keep the country moving.

“Although growth in electric vans and HGVs continues to rise as manufacturers ensure operators have access to a wide range of zero-emission models, neither vehicle category is currently on a trajectory to meet the mandate, which stresses the importance of greater governmental support through funding and charging infrastructure.”