Commercial vehicle registrations: +7.6% over twelve months; ‐2.5% in December

Total Commercial Vehicles

In December, the EU* market for new commercial vehicles decreased slightly this month (‐2.5%), totalling 166,742 units. Only the light commercial vehicle segment saw an increase, while truck, bus and coach sectors recorded a significant drop in sales. Spain (+33.8%) and France (+1.5%) contributed positively, while the UK (‐9.2%), Germany (‐5.2%) and Italy (‐2.8%) performed less well than in the same month last year. Substantial declines posted by the new EU member states (‐9.0%) partially explain last month’s negative outcome.
Twelve months into the year, 1,849,077 new commercial vehicles were registered, or 7.6% more than last year. Looking at the largest markets, France remained stable (‐0.4%), while Germany expanded (+4.8%). The UK (+10.8%), Italy (+13.9%) and Spain (+31.6%) posted double‐digit growth.

New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – vans

In December, new registrations of vans totalled 141,064 units, more than in the same month last year (+14.4%), mainly affected by the significant growth recorded in most major markets, in Spain (+37.9%), the UK (26.6%), Germany (15.0%), France (+7.2%) and Italy (+3.2%).

From January to December, the EU market for vans increased (+11.3%), compared to the twelve months of 2013, mainly driven by the generalised growth observed in all major markets in recent months. Twelve months into the year, new van registrations totalled 1,535,125 units, representing 83% of total new commercial vehicle registrations.

New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding buses and coaches) – heavy trucks

December results showed a significant decrease in new heavy truck registrations (‐49.3%) especially when compared with the exceptional growth recorded in the same month last year due to the anticipated implementation of the Euro VI standards in January 2014. Spain was the only major market to sustain demand (+13.5%). Elsewhere downturns occurred in France (‐35.6%), Germany (‐39.5%), Italy (‐40.3%) and the UK (‐77.8%).

Over twelve months, the region registered fewer vehicles (‐6.1%) than in the same period last year and counted 217,958 new heavy trucks. Looking at the major markets the results were diverse. Italy (‐1.4%), France (‐13.1%) and the UK (‐28.3%) performed less well than last year, while German (+6.1%) and especially Spanish (+25.6%) markets expanded.

New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding buses and coaches) – trucks

In December, results for trucks were similar to the heavy truck segment, with most of the major markets facing a downturn, and only Spain posting growth (+8.4%). Overall, there was a substantial contraction (‐49.0%) across the region as a whole.

From January to December, France (‐13.7%) and the UK (‐27.8%) faced a downturn while demand was up in Spain (+23.2%), leading to a downturn in the region as a whole (‐8.1%). In total, 280,391 new trucks were registered in the EU last year.

New buses and coaches over 3.5t

December results were down (‐15.7%) compared to December 2013. Among the major markets, Spain was the only one to sustain demand (+59.6%), while the UK (‐21.0%), Germany (‐23.6%), France (‐26.4%) and Italy (‐65.8%) performed less well than in the same month a year earlier.

From January to December, Spain was the only major market to post growth (+15.0%), while elsewhere downturns occurred. Overall, the EU recorded 33,561 new buses and coaches, or 1.4% more than in 2013. Substantial growth posted by the new EU member states (+18.4%) partially explain this positive outcome.