This month at a glance
Welcome to May’s Industry Insights blog, your monthly summary of all the sector-specific updates which will help you optimise your fleet.
Read on for news of US-UK import rates, a new consultation looking at solar canopies on outdoor car parks, and a host of new LCVs entering the market.
Rate of imports to US decreases
The rate on UK car imports to the US has been cut from 27.5% to 10% – a move which impacts 100,000 vehicles annually.
The US is an important market for UK manufacturers, and represents 17% of car exports in 2024. Most of these exports come from premium brands, such as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Bentley. However, with no date for implementation of the reduced tariff, carmakers are reporting that sales to the US remain frozen.
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Supreme Court hearing on car finance commission
The Supreme Court has started its hearing into whether to uphold or overturn last year’s Court of Appeal ruling, which stated that that it was unlawful for a broker to receive commission from a lender providing motor finance to a customer.
The motor finance industry will likely have to wait until July at the earliest before the Supreme Court makes its decision.
Royal Mail continues electric truck trials
Royal Mail has deployed two 19t electric trucks as part of a new trial. The Magtec MEV190 trucks, which can cover up to 125 miles on a single charge, will be based at a mail centre in NE London, and will deliver and collect mail between nearby delivery offices.
Average car discount falls in April 2025
Auto Trader research has shown that the average new car discount across all types has reduced from 9.3% in March 2025 to 8.6% in April 2025, with electric falling from 11.7% to 10.3% in the same period.
Auto analysts are predicting that this decrease may be due to the ZEV mandate, which has been amended to offer manufacturer’s more flexibility.
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Consultation to mandate solar canopies on outdoor car parks
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a consultation on a proposal to mandate the introduction of solar canopies on new outdoor car parks.
The Government is also looking for feedback on:
- Ways to increase deployment of solar canopies on outdoor car parks.
- Views on what further changes can be made to the planning regime when installing EV charge points.

LCV market update
Ford Pro launches Ford Power Promise to boost electric van uptake
Ford Pro is introducing a package of benefits for commercial vehicle operators that are designed to make switching to electric vans simpler. The Ford Pro Power Promise provides:
- The option of a £10 home charge point with standard installation and a five-year hardware warranty, or an £825 discount on a workplace charging solutions.
- 12 months of complementary access to Ford Pro vehicle management software.
- An eight-year, 100,000-mile-high voltage component and battery warranty.
- Five-year towing assistance to help hard-working vehicles or employees which have broken down.
- Access to more than 33,000 UK public charging points via Ford’s BlueOval Charge Network.


AFP virtual depot app for shared EV charging facilities nears launch
The AFP has launched an online platform that allows fleets to share their EV charging facilities with other businesses. The app will allow members to upload spare charging infrastructure onto the database, which can then be booked out by other members.
Find out moreNew LCVs on the horizon
Isuzu D-Max
The new Isuzu D-Max, described as the “first fully capable electric pick up”, will arrive in the UK in February 2026. The vehicle has a driving range of around 150 miles and supports DC fast charging at 50kW – enough for 10-80% charging in one hour.
Mercedes VAN E.A
Due to launch in 2026, VAN E.A will underpin a new line-up of medium and large electric vans from Mercedes. The company will also move away from the compact van segment, with its Citan model set to also end production in 2026.
Flynt’s first van
Flynt, a Dutch-based start up company, is planning to launch a new 3.5t electric van in Europe next year. The company claim that the van will have a range of 310 miles.
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