HGV Registrations Continue to fall in Q1 2015
With the exception of DAF, the UK market leader, the first quarter of 2025 has been a disaster for new truck registrations in the UK. After a disappointing year in 2024, which saw falls in tractor unit registrations depressing the market, the falls have continued with rigid trucks also taking a dive in Q1 2025 with overall registrations down -12% compared to a lacklustre market in 2024.
Rigid trucks under 16 tonnes and tractor units fell by a similar 15.1% and 16% respectively, whilst heavier rigids of 18 tonnes and over fared slightly better with falls of ‘just’ 8%.
It is early days with the figures only coving a three-month period, but the results mean that 2025 is unlikely to be a bumper year for truck registrations. Remember, these statistics cover the period before the implementation of the National Insurance and business rates changes.
Electric Truck Registrations
One area of slightly better news is the increase in the number of registrations of electric trucks which has almost doubled compared to the same period past year. That’s the good news. The bad news is that 94% growth of not very many registrations still results in not many registrations. The numbers were up to a whopping 97 units across the three months – about 1% of the total. There is a long way to go if the UK is to achieve its target for all new HGVs up to 26 tonnes – the majority of the market – to be zero emission by 2035, with the remainder of the sector following by 2040.
There is now a choice of around 35 different zero emission trucks in the UK’s market. If operators cannot get a suitable connection to the power grid to charge an electric truck fleet, there is no way many electric trucks will be bought – especially given the high price of acquisition.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “As the UK’s new truck market normalises after a turbulent few years, industry is already setting a new course for green growth with almost three dozen different zero emission models now available, and a record quarterly market share. Onerous planning processes, however, are acting as a handbrake on depot and public infrastructure, and fast-tracked grid connections are essential if more HGV fleets are to be decarbonised.”
The Best Selling Truck Brands
It should come as no surprise that DAF sold the most trucks in the UK in Q1 2025 – the company has been market leader for decades. What is interesting is that DAF was the only major manufacturer to improve on their performance in Q1 compared to 2023.
Perhaps this says less about DAF’s performance this year and more about the poorer performance at the start of 2023 when the company was down by -17.3% by the end of June in what was otherwise a flat market. Conversely, Volvo found themselves 15% up last year, only to fall by 15% in Q1 this year. Volvo’s struggles so far this year means that the company has been overtaken by Scania moving into second place for market share.
A particularly poor performance from Mercedes has meant that there has been a levelling of the playing field for the manufacturers in 4th, 5th and 6th places with just 37 registrations separating the three players.
| Marque | Q1 | % Market | Q1 LY | % Market | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAF TRUCKS | 3031 | 31.13% | 2925 | 26.43% | 3.62% |
| SCANIA | 1698 | 17.44% | 1843 | 16.65% | -7.87% |
| VOLVO | 1649 | 17% | 1956 | 17.67% | -15.7% |
| MERCEDES | 773 | 7.94% | 1144 | 10.34% | -32.43% |
| MAN | 759 | 7.79% | 1165 | 10.53% | -34.85% |
| IVECO | 736 | 7.56% | 937 | 8.47% | -21.45% |
| RENAULT TRUCKS | 600 | 6.16% | 602 | 5.44% | -0.33% |
| DENNIS EAGLE | 237 | 2.43% | 182 | 1.64% | 30.22% |
| ISUZU | 215 | 2.21% | 258 | 2.33% | -16.67% |
| FUSO | 40 | 0.41% | 56 | 0.51% | -28.57% |
| TOTAL | 9,738 | 100% | 11,068 | 100.00% | -12.02% |
Our View
- Best selling truck brand: DAF
- Most improved Brand: DAF
- One to watch: Renault Trucks