Commercial vehicle registrations: +7.5% in first quarter of 2017; +10.0% in March
Brussels, 26 April 2017 – In March 2017, EU commercial vehicle registrations increased significantly (+10.0%), totalling 266,930 units.
Total new commercial vehicles
In March 2017, EU commercial vehicle registrations increased significantly (+10.0%), totalling 266,930 units. This strong result is mainly due to Easter falling in March last year and in April this year. Demand was sustained by all segments and across most of the major EU markets. Spain (+24.3%), Germany (+17.3%), Italy (+17.0%) and France (+13.7%) all posted double-digit percentage gains, although registrations declined slightly in the United Kingdom (-1.3%).
During the first quarter of the year, the European market expanded by 7.5%, counting 606,258 new commercial vehicles. Over the same period, both Spain (+20.4%) and Italy (+13.4%) posted highest increases, followed by France (+9.4%) and Germany (+7.5%), while the UK market remained stable (-0.2%).
New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5 tonnes
In March 2017, new registrations of light commercial vehicles totalled 225,861 units, or 10.5% more than in the same month last year. Spain (+25.4%), Germany (+18.4%), France (+15.2%) and Italy (+12.9%) all posted significant growth. At the same time, the United Kingdom (-0.9%) performed slightly below March 2016 levels.
From January to March 2017, 504,877 new vans were registered in the EU, up 8.1% compared to the first quarter of 2016. The United Kingdom (-0.9%) was the only major market posting a slight decline, while Spain (+23.6%), France (+10.2%), Italy (+9.4%) and Germany (+8.9%) all saw demand for vans increase.
New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) over 16 tonnes
March 2017 results show a positive uplift in the heavy truck segment (+6.2%), with 29,979 new vehicles registered. Most of the Eu’s major markets contributed to this growth, Italy did very well (+60.1%) while the UK (-11.7%) market faced a downturn.
Three months into the year, the EU market grew by 4.8%, reaching 75,329 units. Italy (+43.9%), France (+5.7%), Germany (+4.9%), Spain (+2.0) and the UK (+0.6%) all saw their demand for heavy trucks increase.
New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5 tonnes
In March 2017, truck registrations were largely similar to those in the heavy truck segment, with Italy again posting the highest growth figures (+52.9%) followed by Spain (+16.9%) and Germany (+14.1%) – only the United Kingdom posted a decline (-6.4%). Overall, 36,870 new trucks were registered in the EU, up 7.1% compared to March 2016.
From January to March 2017, 91,665 new trucks were registered in the European Union, 4.7% more than last year. Similarly to the HCV segment, the five big markets posted growth, jointly sustaining positive momentum across the whole region.
New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5 tonnes
March 2017 results of the bus and coach segment were rather diverse. Demand fell in France (‐8.6%), while Italy (+57.8%) and Germany (+21.6%) posted remarkable growth. Overall, 4,199 new buses and coaches were registered across the region, up 9.1%.
In the first quarter of 2017, the EU bus and coach market grew by 5.9%, counting 9,716 vehicles registered. Demand only decreased in Spain (-1.8%) and France (-17.9%), while new bus and coach registrations increased in Italy (+58.0%), Germany (+12.9%) and the UK (+8.5%).
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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