The EU market of new commercial vehicles expanded for the 13th consecutive month in September, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Demand increased 13.2%, totaling 181,436 units.
Growth prevailed in the van and heavy trucks segments, while the truck and bus and coach segments slightly declined. All major markets expanded and, in particular, Italy (+33%), Spain (+20.2) and the UK (+10.6%) recorded a double-digit growth.
From January to September, 1,352,410 new commercial vehicles were registered, or 9.6% more than in the same period last year. Looking at the largest markets, France remained stable (0.4%), while Germany expanded (+7.5%). The UK (+12.4%), Italy (+16.9%) and Spain (+32.4%) posted double-digit growth.
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding buses and coaches) – heavy trucks
In September, results were diverse in the heavy trucks segment, with the UK (-10.1%), Spain (-6.1%) and France (-3%) facing a downturn, while Italy (+10.2%) and Germany (9.1%) posted growth. Overall, there was an expansion (2.7%) in the whole region.
Over nine months, the region registered more vehicles (+3%) than in the same period last year and counted 156,604 new heavy trucks. Looking at the major markets, France (-8.3%) and the UK (-22%) performed less well than in the first eight months of 2013, while the Italian (+12.6%), German (+14.6%) and Spanish (+26.9%) markets expanded.
New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding buses and coaches) – trucks
In September all major markets, except Italy (19.2%), registered a drop in trucks sales, with declines in Germany (-0.6%), France (-4.5%), Span and the UK (-9.5%).
From January to September, France (-9.6%) and the UK (-21.4%) faced a downturn, while demand was up in Italy (+4.6%), Germany (+5.8%) and Spain (+23.2%), leading to a stable situation in the whole region (-0.4%). In total, 201,716 new trucks were registered in the EU* in the first nine months.
New buses and coaches over 3.5t
September results were down (-3.9%) compared to September 2013. Among the most significant markets, Spain (+24.7%) was the only one to post growth. Germany (-10.3%), France (-13.6%), the UK (-26.3%) and Italy (-34.2%) fared less well than in the same month a year earlier.
From January to September, Spain (+12.5%) saw the largest growth, followed by Germany (+1.7%). Overall, the EU recorded 24,384 new buses and coaches, or more (+3.4%) than in the first nine months of 2013.
New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – vans
In September, new registrations of vans totaled 152,225 units, more than in the same month last year (+16.2%), mainly affected by the significant growth recorded in all major markets, in Italy (+36.3%), Spain (23.9%) France (14.3%), the UK (14.1%) and Germany (12%).
From January to September, the EU market for vans increased (+11.7%), compared to the first nine months of 2013, mainly driven by the generalized growth observed in all major markets in recent months. Nine months into the year, new van registrations in totaled 1,126,310 units, representing more than 83% of the total new commercial vehicle registrations.