Commercial vehicle registrations: -13.5% first two months of 2022; -15.7% in February

Total new commercial vehicles

In February 2022, new commercial vehicle registrations retreated across the European Union, down 15.7% to 131,874 units. Except for heavy commercial vehicles, all segments recorded declines. The four key markets in the region also all suffered losses: Spain (-23.3%), France (-21.4%), Germany (-8.1%) and Italy (-4.8%).

From January to February, demand for commercial vehicles in the EU decreased by 13.5% to 257,127 units registered in total. Spain (-21.9%), France (-19.3%), Germany (-5.8%) and Italy (-2.8%) all recorded declines.

New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5t

Last month, sales of new vans across the EU saw another double-digit decline (-18.2%), as manufacturers continued to suffer from semiconductor shortages. Looking at the four main EU markets, Spain (-27.1%), France (-23.6%) and Germany (-12.0%) posted double-digit losses, while Italy (-6.3%) recorded a more modest decline.

During the first two months of the year, registrations of new light commercial vehicles fell by 16.3% in the European Union, totalling 206,345 units. All major markets in the region recorded declines, with Spain posting the steepest drop (-27.1%).

New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) of 16t and over

February sales of new heavy commercial vehicles saw modest growth (+0.4%), reaching 19,690 units sold across the European Union. Except for Italy (-0.7%), all major markets in Western Europe contributed positively to last month’s growth: Germany (+11.8%), France (+6.4%) and Spain (+3.7%). By contrast, Poland – which is the largest market for heavy commercial vehicles in Central Europe – recorded a double-digit decline (-17.9%).

Two months into the year, EU heavy commercial vehicle registrations expanded by 4.1%, counting 40,270 units in total. The European Union’s four major markets recorded gains: Spain (+10.3%), Germany (+4.9%), France (+4.0%) and Italy (+0.7%).

New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5t

In February, demand for trucks across the European Union shrank by 1.5%, counting 23,124 units. This decline was mainly the result of double-digit losses in several Central European markets, which dragged down the region’s overall performance. By contrast the largest markets in Western Europe all posted growth: Germany (+5.9%), Italy (+2.6%), France (+2.1%) and Spain (+0.2%).

Over the first two months of the year, 46,639 new trucks were registered in the EU, a year-on-year rise of 1.2%. The results among the four key EU markets were varied. Spain recorded an increase of 7.1%, while Italy saw a modest growth (+0.7%). Germany and France witnessed modest declines (-0.5% and -0.4% respectively).

New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5t

In February 2022, the EU bus and coach market dropped by 12.9%, totalling 1,851 units sold. Among the four key markets in the region, Italy posted double digit gains (+32.1%), followed by Spain (+7.1%). France and Germany on the other hand suffered double-digit losses (-20.2% and -18.3% respectively).

From January to February, the sales of buses and coaches across the EU slipped by 9.6% to reach 4,143 units. Three of the EU’s four major markets saw declines: Germany (-10.7%), France (-10.0%) and Italy (-7.9%). Spain, however, recorded growth (+11.3%).

In February, new commercial vehicle registrations retreated across the European Union, down 15.7% to 131,874 units.