Van registrations are predicted to grow by 13.9% in 2023 after starting the new year with their first month of growth since the September numberplate change.

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) forecasts said that an easing supply chain issues would help propel the light commercial vehicle (LCV) sector’s recovery after January delivered a 25.8% uplift in registrations to 22,098 units.

Total LCV registrations will reach 321,000 – with a market value of more than £13 billion, a £1.5bn increase on 2022 – as zero-emission van registrations grow by 64.5% this year, to 28,000 units, it said.

Ford emerged as the UK’s most popular van manufacturer in 2022 as the market faced a challenging year, with LCV registrations down by 20%.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The LCV sector is already delivering growth for the UK in 2023, bucking the recessional economic trends.

“Manufacturers have invested billions to bring choice to the market, especially in electrified vehicles, so harnessing this momentum will be essential to an increasingly green recovery.

“Accelerating electric van uptake means delivering infrastructure and incentives to give every van operator the confidence to make the switch.”

January saw record deliveries of electric vans for the month, up 53.5% to 993 units, accounting for one in 22 vans joining UK roads.

Almost 40 plug-in LCV models are currently available, with Stellantis boosting the UK’s profile as an EV van producer through its investment to transform its Ellesmere Port factory into its European Centre for production.

However, the SMMT is calling for Government help to maintain the UK’s position as the second largest van market in Europe, while meeting escalating targets for sales of new zero emission vans from 2024 to 2030.

Echoing the message delivered alongside yesterday's January new car registrations data, it wants binding targets on the rollout of van-suitable charging infrastructure and purchase incentives as part of a long-term approach to mitigate against additional costs and accelerate zero emission fleet renewal.

The Ford Transit Custom was the UK's best-selling LCV in January, with 2,787 regsitrations, followed by the Volkswagen Transporter (1,428) and Ford Ranger pick-up (1,367).

Registrations increased across all weight classes apart from small vans weighing up to two tonnes in January, with deliveries of the most popular vans, those weighing greater than 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes, rising by 34.1%, and vans weighing greater than 2 to 2.5 tonnes up 3.3%.

Vans weighing up to 2 tonnes fell by 22.6%. The smaller volume pickup and 4x4 segments grew by 20.6% and 62.7%, respectively.