In November 2010, registrations of new commercial vehicles continued their upward trend begun in March, according to ACEA. The European Union recorded 160,495 new vehicles, or 16.3% more than in the same month in 2009. Except for buses and coaches, all segments posted growth from January to November, resulting in an overall 7.5% expansion of the EU market compared with the low levels of 2009.
The vans segment grew by 11.6% in November 2010, totaling 132,670 units. In the major markets, the upturn ranged from +2.0% in Italy to +4.9% in Spain, +7.7% in France, +26.1% in the United Kingdom, and 28.4% in Germany.
Eleven months into the year, vans recorded the strongest increase of all commercial vehicle segments (+8.7%) with 1,356,633 units registered. France was the largest market (+12.0%), before the UK (+19.3%), Germany (+14.5%), Italy (+7.7%), and Spain (+10.1%).
In the heavy-truck market over 16 tonnes (excluding buses and coaches), November saw a strong increase of the heavy-truck market (+69.8%, totaling 17,807 units) compared with the crisis-marked performance in 2009, with the UK posting a 152.2% growth, followed by Germany (+82.0%), France (+49.6%), and Spain (+47.4%). Italy was the only one with a drop (-5.5%).
From January to November, registrations of these heavy trucks were up 4.4%. The situation across the EU varied with Germany (+17.2%) and Spain (+21.4%) experiencing a double-digit growth while the UK (-1.4%) and France (-5.4%) saw their markets recede.
For new commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (excluding buses and coaches), November results were positive (+55.0%) in the truck segment, with growth prevailing in most countries. Italy was the only significant market to decline (-1.0%). Elsewhere, the upturn ranged from +33.7% in Spain to +39.6% in France, +73.1% in Germany, 75.1% in Poland, and +79.6% in the UK.
Cumulative results from January to November show an increase of 3.5% in new truck registrations. Poland (+32.2%), Germany (+16.8%), and Spain (+11.8%) positively contributed to the result while the UK (-4.2%), France (-4.5%), and Italy (-6.5%) faced a downturn.
The segment of new buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes declined in November (-4.7%). A strong growth in Italy (+60.2%) and Spain (+68.5%) could not counterbalance the overall decrease. Registrations in the UK and France dropped by 19.1% and 19.3%, respectively. Germany (+1.3%) remained the largest market for buses and coaches.
Eleven months into the year, registrations fell by 11.2%. Of the most important markets, only Italy posted growth (+22.6%). Markets in Germany (-5.2%), Spain (-10.6%), the UK (-12.6%), and France (-19.1%) all declined.