Demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased in February for the sixth consecutive month, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
Total commercial vehicle registrations grew by 13.7%, totaling 125,241 units. Growth was sustained across all segments of commercial vehicles. Out of the most significant markets, Spain recorded the highest upturn (+49.2%). Germany (+19.6%), the UK (+16.3) and Italy (+13.3%) also posted double-digit growth, while demand in France (+2.9%) also increased. In the first two months of the year, the EU market expanded by 8.7%, totaling 257,509 commercial vehicles. During the same period, Spain (+47.1%), Italy (+12.7%), Germany (+11.0%) and the UK (+9.4) all posted growth, while France was the only major market recording a decline (-1.1%).
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding buses and coaches) – 'heavy trucks'
February results showed a 19.7% increase in new heavy truck registrations, totaling 15,889 units. Germany (+44.7%), Spain (+31.2%), France (+18.9%) and Italy (+8.7%) saw their demand for heavy trucks increase, while the UK market declined by 40.4%. Two months into the year, the EU market grew by 14.5%, reaching 33,006 units. Increase was sustained in Spain (+45.5%), Italy (+36.2%), Germany (+26.5%) and France (+18.1%), while heavy truck registrations dropped by 41.2% in the UK.
New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding buses and coaches) – 'trucks'
February results showed a 17.1% increase in new truck registrations, totaling 20,648 units. Germany (+33.2%), remained the largest market in the month of February in terms of volumes, registering 6,932 trucks. France, the second largest market in the same period (3,519 units), posted double-digit growth (+14.3%). Belgium (+42.3%), Spain (+35.8%), Poland (+28.2%) and Italy (+7.3%) also saw their demand increase. Truck registrations in the UK market fell by 31.0%. From January to February, 41,476 new trucks were registered in the EU, 9.1% more than in the same period last year. Spain (+40.1%), Belgium (+32.4%), Poland (+25.0%), Italy (+18.4%), Germany (+16.0%) and France (+13.3%) all posted double-digit growth. Demand for new trucks in the UK declined by 35.2%.
New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – 'vans'
In February, the segment of vans grew by 13.2% to 102,700 units. Growth was sustained in all major markets including Spain (+51.4%), the UK (+28.2%), Italy (+14.7%), Germany (+13.7%) and France (+1.7%). From January to February, 211,707 new vans were registered in the EU, 8.9% more than in the same period last year. France (-3.0%) was the only major market to post a decline, while Spain (+50.3), the UK (+18.5%), Italy (+12.3%) and Germany (+9.1%) saw their demand for vans increase.
New buses and coaches over 3.5t
In February, demand for new buses and coaches increased by 8.5%, totaling 1,893 units. France (417 units) was the largest market in the month of February, posting a 10.6% increase in registrations. Germany (382 units) was the second largest market following a double-digit increase (+37.9%) in registrations. Spain (+20.6%) also recorded growth in this period, while the market in the UK (-17.6%) and Italy (-14.1%) contracted. In the first two months of 2014, the EU market declined by 2.2%, totaling 4,326 new buses and coaches. Demand for new buses and coaches declined in Spain (-16.5%) and the UK (-10.3%), while new registrations increased in France (+13.5%), Germany (+8.3%) and Italy (+0.5%).