For the 10th month in a row, with that month being October, the number of new vans sold here in the UK rose once again according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

New light commercial vehicle sales (LCVs) up to 3.5 tonnes amounted to 26,342 in October 2023 compared to a figure of 22,386 in October 2022. That is a pleasing rise of 17.7%. The biggest percentage increase was in the new vans category from 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes with sales going from 1,844 in October 2022 to 3,801 in October 2023 -that is a huge rise of 106.1%.

On a year to date basis to October 2023, there were 284,321 new vans registered here in the UK. On a year to date basis to October 2022, there were 235,962 new vans sold. That is a very large increase of 20.5%. In percentage terms, it was 4 x 4s that saw the biggest increase with sales rising from 2,540 to 6.645 between those periods – that is a massive rise of 161.6%.

The most popular selling new vans are in the 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes payload category making up for 18,176 of all new vans registered in October 2023 and 192,318 of all new vans sold on a year to date basis to October 2023.

It is interesting that the number of new Battery Electric Vans ( BEVs) sold in October 2023 fell to 1,362 compared to 1,706 in the same month last year – a drop of over 20%. However, the number of new BEVs sold on a year to date basis to October 2023 amounted to 15,658 with this being a rise of almost 20% when compared with the same period in 2022.

The top selling new vans in October 2023 in the UK were: –

1. Ford Transit Custom 2,841
2. Ford Transit 2,148
3. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1,743

The top selling new vans on a year to date basis to October 2023 were: –

1. Ford Transit Custom 34,301
2. Ford Transit 23,831
3. Vauxhall Vivaro 16,457

We will continue to provide updates periodically about the sale of new vans in the UK.