Motor industry truck fleets down 7.8% since July

Figures from Motor Transport Fleet Data show the number of trucks operated by major motor industry fleet operators has fallen by 7.8% since July last year. Over the same period, trailer numbers have declined by just 1%.

Analysis of 14 operators with comparable data—including manufacturers such as Ford, Jaguar Land Rover and Stellantis, alongside specialist vehicle logistics firms—highlights a sector adjusting unevenly to changing market conditions.

The UK motor industry remains a major contributor to the economy, generating around £92bn in 2025 and producing more than 717,000 cars, 47,000 commercial vehicles and 1.6 million engines. However, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows car output has declined from 1.2 million units in 2020.

The pace of transition is accelerating. Hybrids and battery-electric vehicles accounted for 50% of car registrations in the first three months of 2026, up from 45% a year earlier. Chinese-owned brands have played a significant role, increasing their market share from 1.3% to 15% over the past five years.

Fleet performance varies across operators. Stellantis and Logisteed UK have recorded notable growth, while car transport firms Walon and ECM—both owned by the BCA Group—have also expanded.

By contrast, Unipart has reduced its fleet size despite growing group sales, suggesting a shift in focus to other areas. Acumen Automotive Logistics has also seen a slight decline. Eight of the 14 operators analysed reported no change in fleet size over the period.

Transport giants such as DHL were excluded from the analysis as it is not possible to isolate their motor industry operations.

Fleet Data is Motor Transport’s listing of the UK’s largest third-party and own-account HGV operators, based on weekly O-licence updates from the Office of the Traffic Commissioners.

Motor industry commercial vehicle fleets ranked by growth between July 2025 and April 2026