Commercial vehicles: truck market up by 2.6% over nine months 2007

This improvement has been sustained by an uninterrupted hike in van registrations throughout the year. In September, demand for light commercial vehicles (vans) in Europe once again went up (+7.8%), despite a reduced number of working days, and reached a cumulative nine-month increase of +7.6%. The truck market (above 3.5 tonnes) plunged in September by 15.1%, reflecting last year’s high as a result of anticipated purchases prior to the introduction of the Euro4 legislation in October 2006. However, between January and September this market remained on an upward trend (+2.2%) thanks to a 40.6% increase in the new EU member states. Bus and coach registrations dropped by 22.6% in September and by 8.4% over nine months.

New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t (vans)

In September, 188,414 vans were registered in Europe (EU23+EFTA), 7.8% more than last year. Western Europe reported a 6.5% rise and registrations in the new EU member states surged by 26.6%. Demand for vans increased on all but one main markets, with two-digit growth in Germany (+17.4%), France (+16.6%) and Italy (+13.8%) and +5.2% in the UK. Spain (–6.5%) and other four EU15 countries saw their registrations drop. Among the new member states the highest increases were reported by Poland (+43.2%), Slovenia (+35.1%) and Czech Republic (+28%). Steady growth trend in van registrations in Europe resulted in 7.6% higher cumulative three-quarter figures. Western Europe improved its last year’s result by 6.5% and the new EU member states soared by 23.3%. With the exception of Denmark (–4.3%), Greece (–0.9%) and Lithuania (–4.2%), all other markets maintained their good results.

New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding Buses & Coaches)

September 15.6% decline in new heavy truck registrations in Europe mirrored last year’s haste in purchases ahead of the Euro4 legislation taking effect in October 2006. The situation in Western Europe (–18.4%) was different, however, from the one in the new member states, where registrations increased by +8.5%. Four out of five largest markets endured losses: the UK of –46.9%, France –29.4%, Spain –28% and Italy –13.7%. Demand for new heavy trucks remained strong in Germany (+18.6%) and in three smaller EU15 countries: Austria (+39.6%), Luxembourg (+18.3%) and Sweden (1%). The growth in the new member states was mainly driven by expansion in registrations in Poland (+24%) and Lithuania (+21.8%). Nine months into 2007, new heavy truck market in Europe was up by 4.1% thanks to a solid upturn in the new member states (+49.2%). Registrations in Western Europe fell by 0.6% in this period.

New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches)

Registrations of new trucks (above 3.5 tonnes) reflected the market developments in the heavy truck sector. With 40,254 new registrations in September, Europe’s new truck market downsized by 15.1%. Demand in Western Europe decreased by 17.7% and the in the new EU member states it went up by 7.4%. All main markets were distorted by the “Euro4 effect”. Registrations in France dropped by 31.6%, in the UK by 30.1%, in Spain by 19.4% and in Germany by 5.2%. Between January and September 2007, 2.2% more new trucks were registered in Europe compared to the previous year. Western Europe further deepened its loss (–1.6%) while the new member states (+40.6%) positively contributed to the overall result.

New Buses & Coaches over 3.5t

New bus and coach registrations in Europe (EU21+EFTA) fell by 22.6% in September. The decrease was greater in the new member states (–30.7%) than in Western Europe (–22.1%). Cumulative figures showed a 8.4% drop after the first three quarters of the year.