Van registrations fell for the fifth consecutive month in May, according to the latest figures.

Sales of new vans were down 25.1 per cent to 22,000 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Although May 2021 saw the highest May registrations total in history, the market was still 21.5 per cent below the pre-pandemic average, as component shortages restricted production and delivery.

Sales of larger vans weighing more than 2.5 tonnes declined by 19.4 per cent, while sales of medium vans weighing 2 to 2.5 tonnes were down by 33.4 per cent.

But there was some good news for the move to electric vehicles, with 869 battery electric vans (BEV) registered in the month - 276 more than last May. BEV registrations for the year to date are 62.7 per cent higher than last year, due in part to significant large fleet orders delivered earlier in the year.

So far in 2022, overall BEV market share has more than doubled to 5.2 per cent, thanks to growing choice from manufacturers, with one in three models now available as a plug-in.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: "Global supply chain shortages continue to hold back the market following last May's post-pandemic bounce back. Manufacturers have, however, worked hard to get the latest zero-emission vans to customers, more than doubling their market share.

"However, this is still an emerging market, and everything must be done to encourage drivers to switch to zero emission commercial vehicles if we are to achieve our net zero goals."