Commercial vehicle registrations: +12.1% in first quarter of the year; +8.0% in March
Brussels, 22 April 2016 – In March 2016, demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased for the 15th consecutive month. Total commercial vehicle registrations grew by 8.0%, totalling 242,049 units.
Total new commercial vehicles
In March 2016, demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased for the 15th consecutive month. Total commercial vehicle registrations grew by 8.0%, totalling 242,049 units. Growth was sustained across all segments of commercial vehicles. Looking at the largest markets, Italy recorded the highest upturn (+29.3%), while France (+6.4%), the UK (+3.2%) and Germany (+2.6%) showed more modest rates of growth. The Spanish market (-0.6%) saw a slight decline after a period of strong growth.
In the first quarter of the year, the EU market expanded by 12.1%, totalling 563,132 commercial vehicles. During the same period, Italy (+27.9%), Spain (+10.6%), France (+10.2%), Germany (+9.2%) and the UK (+2.2%) all posted growth.
New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5 tonnes
In March 2016, new registrations of light commercial vehicles totalled 204,157 units, or 7.6% more than in March 2015. This marked the 31st consecutive month of growth in the segment, which accounts for the majority of sales in the commercial vehicle market. Italy (+32.1%), France (+5.0%), the UK (+3.3%) and Germany (+3.0%) contributed positively to the upturn, while Spain (-1.3%) performed less well than last year.
From January to March 2016, 466,839 new vans were registered in the EU or 11.3% more than in the same period last year. All major markets saw their demand for vans increase during the first quarter of the year.
New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) over 16 tonnes
March 2016 results showed again a double-digit increase (+12.2%) in the heavy truck segment, which totalled 27,831 new registrations. This positive outcome was largely sustained by the significant growth recorded in Italy (+25.2%), France (+18.6%) and Spain (+9.3%). Noteworthy was the contribution of the new EU member states, especially Poland (+46.3%) and the Netherlands (+30.3%), to last month’s positive outcome.
Three months into the year, the EU market grew by 18.0%, reaching 71,501 units. All major markets saw their demand for heavy trucks increase: Spain (+22.1%), Italy (+19.1%), France (+16.9%), the UK (+13.5%) and Germany (+8.0%).
New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5 tonnes
In March 2016, results for trucks were similar to the heavy truck segment, with Italy (+22.0%), France (+18.3%) and Spain (+10.9%) posting double-digit gains. Overall, 34,092 new trucks were registered in the EU, or 11.1% more than in March 2015.
From January to March 2016, 87,262 new trucks were registered in the EU, 17.6% more than in the same period last year. All major markets posted significant growth, especially Spain (+25.0%) and Italy (+19.2%).
New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5 tonnes
In March 2016, new buses and coaches registrations increased (+2.0%) compared to March 2015, totalling 3,800 units. Growth was mainly sustained by the French (+12.7%) and German (+10.5%) markets, while the UK (-2.9%), Spain (-20.4%) and Italy (-39.3%) performed less well than in March 2015.
Total new commercial vehicles
In March 2016, demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased for the 15th consecutive month. Total commercial vehicle registrations grew by 8.0%, totalling 242,049 units. Growth was sustained across all segments of commercial vehicles. Looking at the largest markets, Italy recorded the highest upturn (+29.3%), while France (+6.4%), the UK (+3.2%) and Germany (+2.6%) showed more modest rates of growth. The Spanish market (-0.6%) saw a slight decline after a period of strong growth.
In the first quarter of the year, the EU market expanded by 12.1%, totalling 563,132 commercial vehicles. During the same period, Italy (+27.9%), Spain (+10.6%), France (+10.2%), Germany (+9.2%) and the UK (+2.2%) all posted growth.
New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5 tonnes
In March 2016, new registrations of light commercial vehicles totalled 204,157 units, or 7.6% more than in March 2015. This marked the 31st consecutive month of growth in the segment, which accounts for the majority of sales in the commercial vehicle market. Italy (+32.1%), France (+5.0%), the UK (+3.3%) and Germany (+3.0%) contributed positively to the upturn, while Spain (-1.3%) performed less well than last year.
From January to March 2016, 466,839 new vans were registered in the EU or 11.3% more than in the same period last year. All major markets saw their demand for vans increase during the first quarter of the year.
New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) over 16 tonnes
March 2016 results showed again a double-digit increase (+12.2%) in the heavy truck segment, which totalled 27,831 new registrations. This positive outcome was largely sustained by the significant growth recorded in Italy (+25.2%), France (+18.6%) and Spain (+9.3%). Noteworthy was the contribution of the new EU member states, especially Poland (+46.3%) and the Netherlands (+30.3%), to last month’s positive outcome.
Three months into the year, the EU market grew by 18.0%, reaching 71,501 units. All major markets saw their demand for heavy trucks increase: Spain (+22.1%), Italy (+19.1%), France (+16.9%), the UK (+13.5%) and Germany (+8.0%).
New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5 tonnes
In March 2016, results for trucks were similar to the heavy truck segment, with Italy (+22.0%), France (+18.3%) and Spain (+10.9%) posting double-digit gains. Overall, 34,092 new trucks were registered in the EU, or 11.1% more than in March 2015.
From January to March 2016, 87,262 new trucks were registered in the EU, 17.6% more than in the same period last year. All major markets posted significant growth, especially Spain (+25.0%) and Italy (+19.2%).
New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5 tonnes
In March 2016, new buses and coaches registrations increased (+2.0%) compared to March 2015, totalling 3,800 units. Growth was mainly sustained by the French (+12.7%) and German (+10.5%) markets, while the UK (-2.9%), Spain (-20.4%) and Italy (-39.3%) performed less well than in March 2015.
In the first quarter of 2016, the EU bus and coach market increased by 3.7%, reaching 9,031 units. Demand declined in the UK (-13.2%) and Italian (-12.7%) markets, while new buses and coaches registrations increased in Germany (+12.7%), France (+11.6%) and Spain (+5.6%).
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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
