In October, the EU market for new commercial vehicles expanded for the fourteenth consecutive month, with demand increasing 10.8%, totaling 176,913 units, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
Significant growth prevailed in all segments, including the truck and bus and coach segments which saw an increase following a decline the month before. Four of the five largest markets in Europe posted monthly gains, in particular, Spain (+41.2%), the UK (+27.1) and Italy (+16.3%) recorded a double‐digit growth.
From January to October, 1,393,551 new commercial vehicles were registered, or 9.8% more than in the same period last year. Looking at the largest markets, France remained stable (‐0.4%), while Germany expanded (+7.8%). The UK (+13.9%), Italy (+17.0%) and Spain (+33.5%) posted double‐digit growth.
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding buses and coaches) – heavy trucks
In October, results in the heavy trucks were similar to the van segment, with France (‐19.1%) facing a downturn, while Italy (+12.1%), Germany (+15.4%), Spain (+48.1%) and the UK (+61.9%) posted double‐digit growth. Overall, there was an expansion (12.9%) in the whole region.
Over ten months, the region registered more vehicles (+4.3%) than in the same period last year and counted 175,701 new heavy trucks. Looking at the major markets the results were diverse. France (‐9.8%) and the UK (‐10%) performed less well than in the first ten months of 2013, while the Italian (+12.5%), German (+14.7%) and especially Spanish (+31.7%) markets expanded.
New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding buses and coaches) – trucks
In October, all major markets, except France (‐20.4%), recorded an increase in trucks sales unlike the previous month, with Germany (+7.3%), Italy (+9%), Spain (+48.1%) and the UK (+67.9%) growing compared to October 2013.
From January to October, France (‐11%) and the UK (‐9.5%) faced a downturn, while demand was up in Italy (+5.1%), Germany (+6%) and Spain (+28.2%), leading to a stable situation in the region as a whole (+1.4%). In total, 235,415 new trucks were registered in the EU in the first ten months.
New buses and coaches over 3.5t
October results were up (+7.8%) compared to October 2013, reversing the negative trend observed from August this year, probably due to the significant growth observed in Polish, Sweden and Romanian markets. Among the major markets, the UK (+24.9%) was the only one to post growth. Spain (‐5.3%), Germany (‐6.9%), France (‐18.3%) and Italy (‐38.3%) fared less well than in the same month a year earlier.
From January to October, Spain (+10.8%) saw the largest growth, followed by Germany (+0.5%) which remains stable. Overall, the EU recorded 27,213 new buses and coaches, or 3.9% more than in the first ten months of 2013.
New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – vans
In October, new registrations of vans totaled 140,389 units, more than in the same month last year (+10.3%), mainly affected by the significant growth recorded in most major markets, in Spain (+40.2%), Italy (+18.6%), the UK (18.2%) and Germany (10.9%). French new light commercial vehicle registrations fell (‐4.4%).
From January to October, the EU market for vans increased (+11.6%), compared to the first ten months of 2013, mainly driven by the generalised growth observed in all major markets in recent months. Ten months into the year, new van registrations totalled 1,135,163 units, representing more than 81% of the total new commercial vehicle registrations.