Light commercial vehicle sales in Europe by country 2022-2023
In 2023, France recorded the highest number of light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales, with some 378,000 vehicles sold. This figure represents an increase of nearly 8.9 percent from the previous year. The second-ranked UK sold some 343,400 units year-to-date, a rise of around 21 percent year-on-year. Lithuania, Cyprus, and Denmark were the countries recording the steepest decline in sales year-over-year.
Delivery vehicles provide a lifeline in times of crisis
In 2020, light commercial vehicle sales slumped across Europe when the coronavirus pandemic brought parts of society to a standstill. Commercial vehicles are more likely to have a business-related customer base than cars. However, as online retail surged during the pandemic, the logistics industry emerged as a driver of light commercial vehicle demand. Europe’s second-largest light commercial vehicle market, the UK, saw record high registration figures in October 2020, with the Ford Transit Custom topping the charts as the best-selling light commercial vehicle in the UK.
Electrifying the light commercial vehicle fleet
Electric light commercial vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of the transportation industry. But passenger cars are electrified at a much faster rate than commercial vehicles. Major European manufacturers have indicated that model ranges will soon be available as fully electric. Electric vans are already cost competitive in some European nations. Norway is a world leader for the adoption of battery electric vehicles - the market share of plug-in LCVs in Norway doubled over the space of four years.
