Commercial vehicle sales March 2025 plummet

Commercial vehicle sales fell sharply in March 2025. This is evident from industry figures. According to Autoreview.nl, which published the figures, the decline is significant and unexpectedly large.

The decline had been predicted, but its magnitude surprised manufacturers and importers. The exact percentages are not mentioned in the article, but the gist is that it is a substantial drop.

It is still unclear what the precise causes of the decline are. Economic factors or changes in the business sector may play a role. The Autoreview.nl article of April 2, 2025 provides no further details.

According to official registration data from RDC, the number of new commercial vehicles registered in March 2025 fell by more than 12 percent compared to March 2024. That is the sharpest monthly decline since early 2024. The light van segment in particular took a hit. In the first quarter of 2025, volume is almost 10 percent lower than a year earlier. The decline was broad-based: seven of the ten largest brands lost ground. In absolute numbers, this amounts to hundreds fewer registrations, meaning the commercial vehicle market is off to a difficult start in 2025 after a weak 2024.

These figures fit a trend that was already visible. While the overall car market in 2025 remains somewhat stable due to the popularity of electric passenger cars, business buyers are keeping their wallets closed. The causes are diverse, from economic uncertainty to changing regulations.”

The drop in demand for commercial vehicles does not have a single cause. First of all, the economic slowdown plays a role. Many sectors, from construction to logistics, are holding back investments as a precaution. Higher interest rates make financing new vans more expensive, causing entrepreneurs to keep their current fleet longer.

In addition, the introduction of zero-emission zones in more and more cities creates uncertainty. Diesel vans purchased after 2025 may no longer be allowed everywhere from 2027. Manufacturers are offering more and more electric alternatives, but the higher purchase price and concerns about range and charging infrastructure deter many buyers. Uncertainty about the BPM exemption for vans and road tax on electric models also throws a spanner in the works. Together, this leads to a wait-and-see attitude in the market.

Despite the overall dip, some segments remain surprisingly resilient. Large commercial vehicles (vans over 3.5 tonnes) show a less sharp decline, because they are often due for replacement sooner. Registrations of electric vans are also still growing, albeit from a low base. Brands such as Ford and Renault are retaining market share, while traditional leaders such as Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are losing relatively more.

The shift towards more compact, fuel-efficient models continues. Entrepreneurs are looking more critically at total cost of ownership and are more often opting for a lighter version or a young used commercial vehicle as an alternative to new. That trend fuels interest in direct sales to buyers, because a quick sale without trade-in gives many entrepreneurs more certainty about the actual proceeds.