ACEA

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: registrations up 7.5% in December

In December, new commercial vehicle registrations in the EU* amounted to 166,739 units**, or 7.5% more than in the same month of 2010. Registrations grew in France (+2.5%), the UK (+13.4%) and Germany (+16.3%), while results were negative in Italy (-0.8%)** and Spain (-14.2%). Over the year 2011, a total of 1,935,392 new vehicles were registered. This is 9.9% more than in 2010 but still about one-fifth below pre-crisis levels when annual volumes averaged 2.5 million units. In 2011, France remained the largest market, with 482,823 new vehicles and an expansion of 5.6%. Germany registered 334,822 units, a growth of 18.7%, followed by the UK (+17.6%) with 306,488 new vehicles. The Italian (-3.4%)** and the Spanish markets (-6.6%) contracted.

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

In December, registrations of new vans grew by 5.4% in the EU*. While growth prevailed in France (+1.6%), the UK (+7.8%) and Germany (+22.6%), Italy (-14.4%) and Spain (-15.7%) faced a double-digit downturn. In total, 136,404 new vans were recorded in the month. From January to December, the EU* recorded1,586,255 new vans, or 7.0% more than in 2010. Results were different across markets as France (+2.7%), the UK (+16.7%) and Germany (+18.8%) performed better, while Italy (-6.1%) and Spain (-10.1%) declined.

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

In December, heavy trucks recorded the highest increase across segments (+20.8%)**, with 19,482 new units in the EU*. Spain (-4.1%) was the only major market to shrink. Elsewhere, results were positive, ranging from +0.6% in Germany to +11.0% in France and +39.0% in the UK. Over twelve months, all significant markets experienced growth. Spain saw demand for heavy trucks increase by 20.6%, while growth was 23.3% in Germany, 41.5% in France and 42.5% in the UK. Overall, the EU* recorded 236,512 new heavy trucks in 2011**, which is 36.0% more than in the previous year.

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

December results in the truck segment showed a 20.5% upturn** in the EU* which recorded 26,846 units. Looking at the most significant markets, Spain (-3.5%) was the only one to contract, while Germany remained stable (+0.9%) and France (+13.2%) and the UK (+46.3%) posted double-digit growths. From January to December, growth prevailed across major markets, leading to an overall 29.0% upturn**. Demand for new trucks rose by 19.8% in Germany, 19.9% in Spain, 31.3% in the UK and 37.7% in France. A total amount of 315,447 vehicles was recorded in the EU*.

New Buses & Coaches over 3.5t

In December, new bus and coach registrations grew by 2.6% in the EU*, sustained by the German market (+10.7%). Demand was stable in the UK (+0.6%) and France (-0.4%), and down 3.0% in Spain. Cumulative results for the whole year showed a 0.7% slip** in the region* as markets performed diversely. France (+15.2%) and Spain (+10.3%) expanded, while Germany contracted by 3.4% and the UK by 16.4%.

* Data for Cyprus and Malta are unavailable
** Due to the unavailability of data from Italy since January 2011, truck figures reported for that country are an extrapolation made by data provider AAA. They are not actual market figures, hence the possibility of an error margin with regard to the EU totals. Van figures are estimates by UNRAE, based on data of the Italian Ministry of Transport.

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