Demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased in March for the seventh consecutive month, with registrations growing by 11.1%, totaling 185,520 units, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
Growth was sustained across all segments of commercial vehicles. Out of the most significant markets, Spain recorded the highest upturn (+26.8%). Italy (+16.3%) and the UK (+11.0) also posted double-digit growth, while demand in Germany (+9.8%) and France (+0.3%) also increased. In the first quarter of the year, the EU market expanded by 9.8%, totaling 443,038 units. During the same period, Spain (+39.0%), Italy (+14.1%), Germany (+10.5%) and the UK (+10.4) all posted double-digit growth, while France was the only major market recording a decline (-0.6%).
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding buses and coaches) – 'heavy trucks'
March results showed a 7.7% increase in new heavy truck registrations, totaling 19,266 units. Out of the most significant markets, Spain (+55.1%) and Germany (+22.9%) recorded double-digit growth, while France (-10.3%), Italy (-11.1%) and the UK (-20.4%) saw their demand for heavy trucks decline. From January to March, the EU market grew by 11.9%, reaching 52,278 units. Increase was sustained in Spain (+48.1%), Italy (+32.5%), Germany (+25.0%) and France (+8.0%), while heavy truck registrations dropped by 31.4% in the UK.
New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding buses and coaches) – 'trucks'
March results showed a 4.2% increase in new truck registrations, totaling 25,262 units. Germany (+14.8%), remained the largest market in the month of March in terms of volumes, registering 8,585 trucks. Spain (+52.9%) and Poland (+7.0%) also saw their demand increase, while truck registrations fell by 11.0% in France, 13.0% in Italy and 21.1% in the UK. Over the first quarter, 66,477 new trucks were registered in the EU, 6.7% more than in the same period last year. Spain (+44.0%), Poland (+18.1%), Germany (+15.5%), Italy (+8.1%) and France (+4.5%) all posted growth, while demand for new trucks in the UK (-28.3%) declined.
New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – 'vans'
In March, the segment of vans grew by 12.4% to 157,333 units. Growth was sustained in all major markets including Spain (+24.7%), Italy (+20.4%), the UK (14.6%), Germany (+7.5%) and France (+1.6%). Three months into the year, 369,311 new vans were registered in the EU, 10.6% more than in the same period last year. France (-1.3%) was the only major market to post a decline, while Spain (+39.5), the UK (+16.0%), Italy (+15.3%) and Germany (+8.5%) saw their demand for vans increase.
New buses and coaches over 3.5t
In March, demand for new buses and coaches increased by 4.4%, totaling 2,925 units. Germany posted double-digit growth (+15.1%) and France (+0.2%) also recorded upturn in this period. The UK, which was the largest market in the month of March with 947 units, posted a 0.6% decrease in registrations. Over the same period, Poland (-0.6%), Spain (-7.0%) and Italy (-8.6%) also saw their demand decline. From January to March, the EU market grew by 0.3%, totaling 7,250 new buses and coaches. Demand for new buses and coaches declined in Italy (-2.4%), the UK (-5.1%) and Spain (-13.7%), while new registrations increased in Germany (+10.7%), France (+8.7%) and Poland (+1.0%).