Motor traders who are involved in the sale of new vans will be disappointed to read that the number of such vehicles in the up to 3.5 tonnes category registered in the UK in April 2022 amounted to 21,597 with this being 29.1% lower than the figure for April 2021 when 30,440 new vans were registered.

The number of new pickups sold in April 2022 amounted to 2,315 compared to 4,134 in April 2021 – a drop of 44.0%. The number of new 4 x 4s sold in April 2022 totalled 122 whereas in April last year the figure was 549 – a drop of 77.8%. The number of new vans sold in the up to 2 tonnes category amounted to 826 in April 2022 compared to 1,595 in April 2021. The number of new vans sold in the 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes category in April 2022 amounted to 2,122 compared to 4,125 in April 2021 – a drop of 48.6%. The number of new vans registered in the 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes category amounted to 16,212 in April 2022 compared to 20,037 in April 2021 – a drop of 19.1%.

It is also concerning to read that the number of new vans registered in the up to 3.5 tonnes category on a year to date basis to April 2022 totalled 95,941 whereas for the same period in 2021 the figure was 127,796. That is a large reduction of 24.9%.

The top 3 selling new vans in the up to 3.5 tonnes category in April 2022 were: –

1. Ford Transit Custom 3,357
2. Ford Transit 2,987
3. Vauxhall Vivaro 1,468

The figures were published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

It is to be hoped that we soon see a turnaround in the numbers of new vans being sold here in the UK as the motor trade industry has been going through a difficult period during the last couple of years. We will continue to keep our readers updated with relevant figures.