Commercial vehicles: registrations down 35.6% in January

Brussels, 25/02/2009- In the first month of 2009 European* registrations of new commercial vehicles contracted by 35.6%, reflecting a significant drop in demand for all four categories: -36.6% for vans, -34.7% for heavy trucks, -33.0% for trucks and -15.8% for buses and coaches. In absolute numbers, new commercial vehicle registrations amounted to 145,187 units. European markets counted on average 1.4 working days less than in January 2008.

New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – “vans”

January registrations of light commercial vehicles (-36.6%) decreased in all markets across Europe. The drop was slightly more pronounced in Western Europe (-37.1%) than in the new EU Member States (-33.1%), with individual market results, however, varying heavily. The sharpest decline was observed in Latvia (-86.5%), followed by Iceland (-83.3%), Ireland (-80.6%) and Denmark (-60.6%). The major markets contracted by 23.6% (France), 31.1% (Germany), 39.6% (Italy), 47.9% (UK), and 50.7% (Spain). In the new EU Member States, the largest market, Poland, performed best (-5.1%). The Czech Republic, the second biggest market, contracted by 37.1%.

New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – “heavy trucks”

European registrations for heavy commercial vehicles were down 34.7%, with the market in the new EU Member States more than halved (-57.6%). In Western Europe, registrations dropped 31.9%. Spain was hit hardest (-76.3%) but other main markets also faced heavy contraction, ranging from -21.5% in Italy, -27.9% in Germany, -31.6% in France to 40.2% in the UK. Just three countries posted growth: Finland (+3.0%), Sweden (+5.2%) and Switzerland (+41.5%).

New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – “trucks”

In January, only Sweden (+2.7%) and Switzerland (+20.6%) posted growth in the segment of trucks. Registrations in Western Europe fell by 29.4% and decreased by 57.8% in the New EU Member States, resulting in an overall 33.0% decline for the European* market. Iceland (-81.0%), Spain (-72.2%) and Ireland (-67.4%) recorded the most important downturns in Western Europe, whereas Germany (-26.4%), France (-28.1%) and the UK (-31.9%) reflected the European average. In the new EU Member States, Poland remained the biggest market, although plunging by 69.0%, followed by the Czech Republic, which recorded a 43.4% decrease.

New Buses & Coaches over 3.5t

Registrations of new buses and coaches dropped by 15.8% in January. The UK represented the biggest market and also posted growth (+11.9%). France closely followed, despite a 23.5% decline. Germany (-18.8%), Italy (-17.9%) and Spain (-11.7%) all saw their markets contract in January. In the new EU Member States, Romania somewhat cushioned the downturn (-7.8%) and remained the largest market for coaches and buses in the region.