ACEA

Commercial vehicles: sharpest downturn ever

Commercial vehicle production is particularly vulnerable to low business confidence and economic uncertainty. Order intake stalled at 49,000 in the in the first three quarters of 2009, compared to more than 178,000 in the same period 2008.

Without access to finance and with weak demand for products and services, many businesses hold back on new expenditure on vans, trucks and passenger vehicles. European commercial vehicle makers have called upon the EU and member states to push economic recovery by investing in infrastructure of the future including in sustainable mobility, energy and telecommunications networks, restoring access to finance, driving better regulation and implementing measures to boost fleet renewal.

"This is not a normal cycle," warned Leif Östling, Chairman of the ACEA Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers Board, "we are experiencing the sharpest downturn ever. Governments must act to prevent the failing of viable businesses, and they must do so in a coordinated way."

Key Facts:

• 6% of turnover invested in R&D each year
• 250,000 jobs in direct employment
• 1.5 million more in associated industries
• 2.6 million people employed by road transport operators
• Global reputation for safety and environmental progress

Read more about

• Latest figures on commercial vehicle registrations in Europe
• Press relase: Commercial Vehicle CEOs draw attention of Commissioners and MEPs to crisis’ impact on the transport
• Press relase: Commercial vehicle manufacturers: recovery still far away
• The commercial vehicle industry is a key industrial asset for Europe
• The environmental contribution of the commercial vehicles industry
• What has the commercial vehicle industry achieved?
• Fleet renewal schemes for commercial vehicles

last updated 04/12/2009

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