Truck market passes post-Covid peak

The UK’s truck market passed its post-Covid peak last year as registrations of new trucks fell by 2.7 per cent from 2023’s 46,227, which was the best year since 2019. While the overall decline was 2.7 per cent, there was a 3.3 per cent fall in the last quarter.

Of the major manufacturers, only Volvo, MAN, and Iveco saw substantial growth, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, while DAF, although in decline, remains comfortably clear of all competitors.

The UK truck market is dominated by three-axle tractor units, and these were entirely responsible for the decline: the fall in tractor registrations was not compensated for by a six per cent increase in registrations of new rigids, with boxes, curtain-sides, flats, and tippers all on the up.

This may reflect a change in transport demand, but is more likely to be a symptom of the lag built into rigid production, with the multi-stage construction process causing far longer lead times between order and delivery.

There was increased demand for RCVs, as evidenced both by a rise in registrations for British municipal chassis-cab manufacturer Dennis Eagle of almost nine per cent and refuse body volumes increasing by 82 to 2,086, fuelled no doubt by new regulations governing waste and recycling.

Anyone anticipating a breakthrough in deliveries of zero-emissions trucks was in for a disappointment: while the UK’s targets for ending the sale of internal-combustion trucks are the most ambitious in the world, demand for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) fell by 7.3 per cent, with just 217 new ZEV trucks being delivered.

While there is no shortage of different ZEVs on the market, price remains a significant barrier, both in terms of capital cost and the installation of in-depot charging, while public charging provision for heavy vehicles remains very limited.  With the government’s plug-in truck grant, which did not even cover most of the trucks now available, coming to an end soon, it seems that much of the UK market is not ready for the types of battery-electric truck being produced by European manufacturers, the introduction of which will require substantial and ongoing government support.

It remains to be seen whether the growing number of market entrants from China will have better luck.

Meanwhile DAF celebrated 30 unbroken years as UK market leader, with managing director David Kiss commenting in a statement: “Naturally, we’re very proud of our long and ongoing success. However, it is not simply down to our great products. It is a result of the efforts of our people – from right across the business – and particularly from our fantastic dealer network that supports our customers.

“And we thank those customers who entrust their business to DAF, many of whom have been working with us for the past three decades and longer.”