Demand for new commercial vehicles was up 8.4% in the EU in November, with 171,670 new registrations, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
The positive results were mainly supported by France (+9.9%), Germany (+13.9%) and the UK (+19.4%). Spain was the only major market to face a downturn (-14.6%). From January to November, the EU market expanded by 10.5%, recording 1,769,994 new vehicles. While Germany (+18.9%) and the UK (+18.0%) performed similarly, France posted a 5.9% growth and the Spanish market contracted by 5.9% compared to the same period a year ago.
By segment:
New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – "trucks" The truck segment expanded by 10.2%, with a total of 27,243 new vehicles registered. All markets saw positive results, from 3.9% in Germany to 5.1% in Spain, 14.6% in France and 21.1% in the UK. In the first eleven months of 2011, strong performances in the major markets led to an overall 29.9% upturn in the region. The German market expanded by 21.7%, the Spanish by 22.1%, the British by 29.61% and the French by 40.4%. Overall, new truck registrations amounted to 288,407 units.
New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – "vans"
In November, the segment of vans saw registrations increase by 8.5%, totaling 141,800 units. France (+9.8%), the UK (+18.6%) and Germany (+18.8%) all performed better than in the same month last year. Spain, on the other hand, experienced a double-digit decline. Eleven months into year, 1,450,542 new vans were registered in the EU, or 7.6% more than in the same period of 2010. Growth in the region was mainly sustained by demand in France (+2.8%), the UK (+17.4%) and Germany (+18.4%). The Spanish market contracted by 9.5%.
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – "heavy trucks" November results for heavy trucks showed a 14.5% upturn, the strongest across segments. The EU registered 20,673 new trucks in the month. Growth prevailed in all major markets, ranging from 5.2% in Spain to 12.4% in France, 13.4% in Germany and 24.3% in the UK. From January to November, demand for new heavy trucks was up 37.5%, as all major markets recorded strong double-digit increases which reached 23.1% in Spain, 25.6% in Germany, 42.9% in the UK and 44.9% in France. In total, 216,841 new vehicles were registered.
New Buses & Coaches over 3.5t
Buses and coaches were the only segment to face a downturn in November, declining by 11.4%. As Spain (-14.8%), Germany (-16.9%) and France (-23.2%) performed less well than in the same month last year, the UK proved to be an exception with its positive result (+43.8%). Over eleven months, performances were diverse across the EU, leading to a 1.0% drop in new registrations. Spain (+11.5%) and France (+16.6%) posted double-digit growths, while Germany (-5.3%) and the UK (-17.4%) fared less well. In total, 31,045 new buses and coaches were recorded from January to November.
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