The number of vans being registered has fallen by 16.7 per cent earlier this year, in the month of July. However, there was also a 0.2 per cent increase in the number of van registrations, for the year to date.

Also according to the British Car Auction, (BCA) van insurance customers have shown a decrease in the demand for commercial vehicles as well as a reduction in the price of vans.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT, said: "Strong truck registrations continue to balance weaker performances in other commercial vehicle sectors.

"In the current economic climate, it is no surprise to see that van registrations have fallen and at 2.5 per cent down year to date, [they give] a strong indication of the pressures being felt by businesses in the UK. We do, however, expect to maintain the overall van and truck registration levels we saw last year."

Duncan Ward, UK business development at the BCA, also stated that a slowdown in the light commercial vehicle industry was not something that the sector had experienced "for some considerable time."