London, UK: UK demand for new heavy trucks grew by 14.9% in the third quarter of 2023 with sales of electric and hydrogen trucks rising in the thirds quarter, the largest quarterly share of 2023, according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Zero emission trucks have recorded their biggest market share of 2023 but uptake must be accelerated if the sector’s ambitious 2035 target is to be achieved, the SSMMT says.
“As Britain gets first-ever public HGV-dedicated charger, a national plan is needed to deliver infrastructure at depots, truck rest stops and the strategic road networks in every region,” the society says.
“While zero emission truck uptake has reached record levels, its share is still a fraction of the entire HGV market, and the sector’s transition needs to be accelerated given its time-critical ambitions. With new registrations of non-zero emission HGVs weighing under 26 tonnes are due to end in 2035 – the same date as cars and vans – zero emission vehicles represent just one in 119 new trucks, compared with one in five new cars and one in 20 new vans. Operators need confidence to make the switch but have acute concerns over the lack of public chargepoint infrastructure, given their dependence on commercially viable logistics in order to meet tight business margins,” the society says.
Overall growth was driven by uptake of rigid HGVs, up 13.9% to 6,293 units, while demand for articulated trucks was also strong, rising 16.1% to 5,238 units. The most popular truck body continues to be tractors, typically used for the largest delivery trucks, up 16.4% to represent some 44.5% of the market. There was also a rise in demand for box vans – slightly smaller delivery trucks – with registrations up 11.8%, while uptake of curtain-sided trucks and refuse vehicles increased by 62.5% and 16.6% respectively. Tipper registrations declined, however, down -9.7% compared with a strong third quarter in 2022, the SMMT reported.
HGV operators in every UK nation continue to make vehicle investments, the vast majority (87.7%) in England in Q3, with registrations up 13.9% to 10,109 units. Truck fleet renewal in Scotland and Wales rose by 16.5% and 9.2% respectively, while Northern Ireland saw the biggest increase, up 64.6%. The top UK region for truck investment continues to be South East England – where some of Britain’s largest ports are located – with 2,438 new HGVs entering service there, accounting for more than one in five (21.2%) registrations. North West England and the West Midlands were the second and third hottest spots for HGV renewal, registering 1,599 units and 1,445 units respectively.
