New heavy goods vehicle registrations in the UK fell 2.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 to 9,471 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The bigger concern, however, was the continued weakness of zero-emission truck uptake, which dropped 16.5% to just 81 units, leaving battery-electric and hydrogen trucks with only 0.9% of the new HGV market.
The overall market decline was driven mainly by weaker rigid-truck demand. Rigid registrations fell 11.6% to 5,000 units, while the artic segment moved in the opposite direction, rising 9.5% to 4,471 units.
That split is visible in the body-type data too. According to SMMT, box van registrations fell 20.1% to 766 units and curtain-siders dropped 31.6% to 525 units. At the same time, tractor deliveries rose 9.1% to 4,313 units, accounting for 59.2% of all new HGV registrations. Tipper registrations increased 2.1% to 865 units, while refuse vehicles jumped 47.1% to 765 units.
For operators, the main takeaway is that fleet replacement is continuing in established diesel-heavy segments, but the move to zero-emission trucks is still struggling to gain traction. SMMT said manufacturers now offer more than 20 zero-emission HGV models, but uptake remains constrained by tight margins, limited charging infrastructure, expensive depot upgrades and long waits for grid connections, which it says can reach up to 15 years for larger projects.
The industry body said government support has helped drive uptake over the past year, pointing to the ZEHID programme, the updated Plug-in Truck Grant and the Depot Charging Scheme. But it argued that faster grid connections for truck depots will be essential if demand is to grow at the pace needed for decarbonisation.
Regionally, registrations fell in most parts of the UK. England remained by far the largest market with 8,083 units, down 2.3% year-on-year. Scotland fell 7.5% to 807 units and Wales dropped 8.1% to 250 units, while Northern Ireland was the only part of the UK to record growth, up 7.9% to 328 units.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said the weak start to the year for zero-emission trucks was “particularly concerning”, adding that the market needs a realistic long-term regulatory approach that reflects the cost and infrastructure barriers operators still face.
