Commercial vehicle registrations: +8.8%** over two months; +13.7% in February

CORRECTION: THIS PRESS RELEASE WAS REVISED ON 28/05/2014 TO REFLECT REVISIONS IN DATA

In February, demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased for the sixth consecutive month. Total commercial vehicle registrations grew by 13.7%, totaling 125,241 units. Growth was sustained across all segments of commercial vehicles. Out of the most significant markets, Spain recorded the highest upturn (+49.2%). Germany (+19.6%), the UK (+16.3) and Italy (+13.3%) also posted double-digit growth, while demand in France (+2.9%) also increased. 

In the first two months of the year, the EU* market expanded by 8.8%**, totaling 257,748** commercial vehicles. During the same period, Spain (+47.1%), Italy (+12.7%), Germany (+11.0%) and the UK (+9.4) all posted growth, while France was the only major market recording a decline (-1.1%).

New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – ‘vans’

In February, the segment of vans grew by 13.2% to 102,700 units. Growth was sustained in all major markets including Spain (+51.4%), the UK (+28.2%), Italy (+14.7%), Germany (+13.7%) and France (+1.7%). From January to February, 211,707 new vans were registered in the EU*, 8.9% more than in the same period last year. France (-3.0%) was the only major market to post a decline, while Spain (+50.3), the UK (+18.5%), Italy (+12.3%) and Germany (+9.1%) saw their demand for vans increase.

New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding buses and coaches) – ‘heavy trucks’

February results showed a 19.7% increase in new heavy truck registrations, totaling 15,889 units. Germany (+44.7%), Spain (+31.2%), France (+18.9%) and Italy (+8.7%) saw their demand for heavy trucks increase, while the UK market declined by 40.4%. Two months into the year, the EU* market grew by 15.3%**, reaching 33,245** units. Increase was sustained in Spain (+45.5%), Italy (+36.2%), Germany (+26.5%) and France (+18.1%), while heavy truck registrations dropped by 41.2% in the UK.

New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding buses and coaches) – ‘trucks’

February results showed a 17.1% increase in new truck registrations, totaling 20,648 units. Germany (+33.2%), remained the largest market in the month of February in terms of volumes, registering 6,932 trucks. France, the second largest market in the same period (3,519 units), posted double-digit growth (+14.3%). Belgium (+42.3%), Spain (+35.8%), Poland (+28.2%) and Italy (+7.3%) also saw their demand increase. Truck registrations in the UK market fell by 31.0%. From January to February, 41,476 new trucks were registered in the EU*, 9.1% more than in the same period last year. Spain (+40.1%), Belgium (+32.4%), Poland (+25.0%), Italy (+18.4%), Germany (+16.0%) and France (+13.3%) all posted double-digit growth. Demand for new trucks in the UK declined by 35.2%.

New buses and coaches over 3.5t

In February, demand for new buses and coaches increased by 8.5%, totaling 1,893 units. France (417 units) was the largest market in the month of February, posting a 10.6% increase in registrations. Germany (382 units) was the second largest market following a double-digit increase (+37.9%) in registrations. Spain (+20.6%) also recorded growth in this period, while the market in the UK (-17.6%) and Italy (-14.1%) contracted. In the first two months of 2014, the EU* market declined by 2.2%, totaling 4,326 new buses and coaches. Demand for new buses and coaches declined in Spain (-16.5%) and the UK (-10.3%), while new registrations increased in France (+13.5%), Germany (+8.3%) and Italy (+0.5%).