Manheim Auction Services has reported record growth in its commercial vehicle division, driven by customer wins and continued strength in the used van market.
Manheim said its commercial vehicle unit achieved 9.1% year-on-year growth in 2025 and a 31.3% increase compared with 2023, supported by new and renewed contracts and robust used market conditions.
Across the wider business, growth was seen in several key customer segments.
Manufacturer volumes rose by 41.2%, finance by 33%, dealer part exchanges by 21.6% and fleet and leasing by 13.4%.
Rental volumes declined by 8.7%, reflecting broader economic pressures.
Manheim said performance was underpinned by fleet renewals, new vendor partnerships and increased stock from repossessions, early contract releases and part exchanges.
The strength of the used market also played a key role in the results.
While new van registrations declined, average used van sale prices rose by 5.6% year on year, with vehicles selling at an average of 4.8% above guide values.
Electric van remarketing activity increased sharply.
Clear shift in the used van market
Used electric van sales were up 102% compared with 2024, with stock selling four days faster on average and first-time conversion rates improving by 11%. Fleet extensions continued to influence stock profiles, resulting in an average age of 68 months and mileage of 77,323 miles.
Matthew Davock, commercial vehicles director at Manheim UK, said: “Over the past year, we’ve seen a clear shift in the way customers are engaging with the van marketplace.
“Buyers are arriving better prepared, using data to track age, mileage and retail values with far greater precision than ever before.
“Couple this with smarter release strategies and improved stock quality from our growing vendor base, and it’s no surprise that demand has accelerated across every major customer segment.”
He added: “Despite wider market challenges, confidence in used vans, particularly electric vans, has strengthened significantly, with performance exceeding expectations.
“As we look ahead to 2026, fleets and leasing operators will be focused on bringing extended life cycles back under control, and timing will be everything.
“Decisions made in the next 12 months will shape fleet performance for years to come.”