While the HGV market in the UK appears to have recovered from the effects of the pandemic, the SMMT has called for more support to assist the transition to carbon zero vehicles.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) in the UK show that high demand from haulage, construction and distribution sectors, coupled with the easing of global supply chain disruption, means the market is now just 2.9% below Q1 2019, with 11,517 new HGVs registered.New rigid models entering service rose by 17.3% to 5,838 units, which the SMMT said represented the highest Q1 demand since 2019 and newly registered artics increased by 16.8% to 5,679 units.
However, the figures also revealed that electric and hydrogen HGVs represented just 0.3% of the market.
The SMMT has continued its call for better measures to assist the market switch to to carbon zero vehicles. There is still not a single HGV-dedicated public charging or hydrogen refuelling station in the UK, the association said. “For truck fleet renewal to drive UK economic growth and decarbonisation in the long term, the zero emission HGV market must gather speed – but operators still need greater certainty that Britain is serious about becoming a globally competitive location for zero emission logistics,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT CEO.
“With an abundance of new electric and hydrogen truck models now ready to join UK roads, a plan is urgently needed to deliver HGV-dedicated public infrastructure, along with incentives for net zero vehicle and depot investments that contend with the world’s major decarbonising nations,” he added.
