Commercial vehicle registrations: +11.6% over five months; +6.0% in May
Brussels, 26 June 2015 – In May 2015, demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased (+6.0%) for the fifth consecutive month, totalling 160,550 units.

Total new Commercial Vehicles
In May 2015, demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased (+6.0%) for the fifth consecutive month, totalling 160,550 units. Growth was sustained across all commercial vehicle segments. Results were diverse among the major markets, with Germany (-9.1%) and France (-5.6%) facing a downturn, while Spain (+30.1%) and the UK (+17.4%) posted double‐digit growth.
Five months into the year, the EU market expanded (+11.6%), totalling 832,782 commercial vehicles. During the same period, Spain (+34.1%), the UK (+22.6%) Italy (+7.5%) and Germany (+3.4%) all posted growth, while France recorded a slight decline (-1.0%).
New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – vans
In May 2015, new registrations of light commercial vehicles totalled 131,883 units, up (+4.3%) compared to May 2014. This marked the twenty-first consecutive month of growth in this segment. Spain (+24.3%), the UK (+15.1%), Italy (+3.0%) contributed positively to the upturn, while new van registrations fell in France (-8.5%) and Germany (-10.0%).
From January to May 2015, 690,803 new vans were registered in the EU (+11.4%). Spain (+33.5%), the UK (+20.7%), Italy (+7.1%) and Germany (+6.1%) saw their demand for vans increase over this period, while France recorded a slight decline (‐1.5%).
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding Heavy Buses & Coaches) – heavy trucks
May 2015 results showed an increase in new heavy truck registrations (+20.6%), totalling 20,597 units. Spain (+92.0%) largely contributed to this positive outcome, sustained by the government “PIMA Transporte” program to incentivise the purchase of commercial vehicles, followed by the UK (+37.8%), France (+28.0%) and Italy (+23.4%) which also posted double-digit growth.
Five months into the year, the EU market grew (+17.8%), reaching 102,682 units. The UK (+62.6%), Spain (+37.2%), Italy (+14.3%) and France (+4.4%) saw their demand for heavy trucks increase, while the German market remained stable (+0.8%).
New Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – trucks
In May 2015, 25,760 new trucks were registered in the EU, up (+16.1%) compared to May 2014. Among major markets Spain (+89.6%), the UK (+35.9%), France (+25.9%) and Italy (+14.2%) posted double-digit growth, while Germany (-6.8%) performed less well than in May 2014.
From January to May 2015, results for trucks were diverse, with Germany (-2.9%) performing less well than in the same period last year, while the UK (+44.5%) Spain (+34.0%) and Italy (+10.7%) recorded significant increases. Overall, the EU registered 126,876 new trucks (+12.8%).
New Buses & Coaches over 3.5t
In May 2015, new bus and coach registrations increased (+3.8%) compared to May 2014, totalling 2,907 units. Spain (+68.7%), the UK (+26.4%) and France (+14.4%) mainly contributed to this positive result, while Germany (-10.5%) and Italy (-34.5%) performed less well than in May 2014.
From January to May 2015, the EU market increased (+14.4%), totalling 15,103 new buses and coaches. Demand was primarily driven by Spain (+73.1%) and the UK (+17.7%), followed by Italy (+10.5%) and France (10.3%). Noteworthy was the contribution of Sweden (+103.9%) over this period.
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About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is the Brussels-based trade association of the 14 major car, van, truck and bus producers in Europe.
- The ACEA commercial vehicle members are DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ford Trucks, Iveco Group, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
- Contact: Francesca Piazza, Senior Statistics Manager, fp@acea.auto.
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About the EU automobile industry
- 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total