The United Kingdom’s commercial vehicle market showed diverging trends in 2025, with strong growth in zero-emission buses contrasting with a contraction in heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The bus, coach and minibus sector delivered its strongest annual performance since 2008, with 9,259 new vehicles registered—an increase of 10.4% compared with the previous year. Zero-emission models, primarily battery-electric, surged 62.2% to 2,523 units, accounting for 27.3% of all new registrations. This means more than one in four new buses entering service in 2025 produced no tailpipe emissions, reinforcing the segment’s position as the UK’s fastest-decarbonising road transport category.
Growth was driven largely by larger vehicle types, which are increasingly electrified. Registrations of single-deck buses and coaches rose 24.9% to 2,465 units, while double-deck deliveries increased 25.6% to 2,010 units. Minibus volumes declined slightly by 0.7% to 4,784 units after a weaker second half of the year.
Regional policy support played a significant role. Scotland recorded the strongest growth among UK nations, with registrations rising 162.3% to 1,188 units, aided by funding from the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund. Nationwide initiatives such as the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme have also supported procurement of electric buses and charging infrastructure.
“Strong growth in Britain’s bus, coach and minibus market is clear evidence of an industry committed to cleaner, reliable and accessible transportation for all,” SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said. He added that the rise in zero-emission uptake has been enabled by manufacturer investment and government support but warned that maintaining momentum will require continued action.
Infrastructure constraints remain a key challenge. Large-scale depot electrification demands substantial grid upgrades, and operators often face lengthy connection timelines and complex approval processes as they transition entire fleets to battery-electric vehicles.
In contrast, the HGV market contracted during the year. New truck registrations fell 10.0% to 40,504 units, reflecting economic headwinds and a normalization following post-pandemic fleet renewal. Despite the decline, zero-emission truck registrations rose sharply—up 170.5% year-on-year to 587 units, a new record. Uptake accelerated toward the end of the year, with fourth-quarter registrations more than tripling compared with the same period in 2024.
The UK has now surpassed 1,000 cumulative registrations of zero-emission trucks, supported by the availability of 21 models across different applications and by public incentives such as the Plug-in Truck Grant and a new Depot Charging Scheme. However, electric trucks still represented only 1.4% of new HGV registrations in 2025, underscoring the early stage of the transition.
“The new HGV market continues to normalise amid economic constraints on fleet investment, but a return to growth in 2026 is needed so that UK businesses can keep moving with the latest, cleanest vehicle technology,” Hawes said. He added that faster grid connections and planning approvals are essential to enable broader adoption of zero-emission fleets.
Overall, the figures highlight a commercial vehicle sector moving at different speeds. While electric buses are entering mainstream deployment supported by structured policy measures, heavy trucks are progressing more slowly as operators contend with higher costs, infrastructure requirements and economic uncertainty.
