Latest figures from the SMMT show a mixed picture for the UK’s heavy vehicle market in the third quarter of 2025. After more than two years of uninterrupted growth, new bus registrations fell by 17% to 1,965 vehicles. The decline was largely driven by a sharp drop in minibus sales, which fell nearly 40% following unusually strong demand last year. In contrast, full-sized buses performed well: single-deck models rose by more than a third, and double-deckers also recorded modest growth.
Despite the quarterly slowdown, the broader bus market remains strong. Registrations for the year so far are up almost 27%, marking the best performance since 2017. Sales of battery-electric buses continue to rise too, with more than 560 delivered in Q3 alone—an increase of 16%—and nearly 2,000 added to UK roads in 2025. This maintains the UK’s position as Europe’s leading market for zero-emission buses, though industry leaders continue to emphasise the need for a comprehensive national charging strategy and sustained funding for regional ZEB programmes.
The HGV market also contracted, falling 14.5% to 9,272 vehicles as operators return to typical replacement cycles after several years of post-pandemic demand. Rigid trucks saw the steepest decline, while articulated models dipped only slightly. However, electric HGV registrations grew rapidly from a low base, more than quadrupling to achieve their highest ever share of the market.
Manufacturers now offer a wide range of zero-emission truck models, yet significant obstacles remain for operators—particularly the high upfront cost of electric HGVs and lengthy delays in securing power connections for depots. Industry groups welcomed the government’s Depot Charging Scheme but say faster action is needed to support fleet decarbonisation.
