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

Brussels, 26/10/2007 – Over the first three quarters of 2007, new commercial vehicle registrations in Europe have altogether outperformed the results from the previous year by 2.6%.

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.

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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
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