New heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations in the UK fell for the first time in two years, with a 3.9% decline in Q1 2024, while zero-emission vehicle (HGV) uptake rose 56.3% to reach a 0.5% share of market, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Operators still registered 11,068 new HGVs between January and March, some 449 fewer units than the same period in 2023, which was the strongest start to a year since the pandemic.
Growth was recorded in rigid HGVs, with overall volumes rising 8.4% year-on-year to 6,327 units, the largest proportional growth seen in the six-to-16-tonnes weight category, compared with Q1 last year.
Conversely, uptake of articulated HGVs declined by 16.5% year-on-year to 4,741 units.
SMMT reported that the overall market has shifted from being split roughly equally between the two vehicle types, to rigids taking almost six in 10 new registrations – representing a normalisation in the market following a fulfilment of pent-up demand over the past 12 months.
As mentioned earlier, ZEV uptake reached 0.5% of overall registrations, up from 0.3% in the same quarter last year – still low in comparison with the car and van markets, although an improvement of 56.3% in volume terms on last year.
ZEV growth, however, remains constricted due to what the SMMT described as “a lack of operator confidence not helped by a grant system – introduced almost a decade ago – which is extraordinarily lengthy and which means that fewer than half of all ZEV models available are currently eligible”.
The SMMT also attributed the lack of ZEV growth in the UK to “a dearth of dedicated HGV charging points”, with just one truck-specific charging point in the country, at the M61 southbound service station, “preventing longer distance operators from going green”.
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According to the SMMT, reforming the grant and implementing a national infrastructure plan would help more businesses switch to zero emission HGVs suitable for a wide range of business needs, and help slash around 19 million tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said, “The truck sector currently stands steady, with just a small decline in uptake compared with a very strong quarter last year.
“Following two solid years of market growth, however, more action is needed to sustain green fleet renewal to decarbonise UK road transport.
“Zero-emission truck uptake remains a fractional part of the market but, with just over a decade until the first phase of the end of sale of fossil-fuel HGVs, operators need inspirational incentives and infrastructure provision to accelerate their investments.”
Achievements and innovations in zero-emission vehicles will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
