New commercial vehicle registrations in Europe dropped for the fifth consecutive month in June, falling by 5.8 per cent compared to June 2011, according to European Automotice Manufacturers Association ACEA.
Italy (-29.8 per cent) and Spain (-28.7 per cent) faced a double-digit downturn, while France (-0.8 per cent) and the UK (+0.2 per cent) remained relatively stable. Germany was the only major market to post growth (+8.8 per cent).
From January to June, demand was down 10.8 per cent, compared to the first half-year of 2011, amounting to 892,850 units. Decline prevailed in all major markets, from -1.9 per cent in Germany to -5.1 per cent in the UK, -7.2 per cent in France, -25.5 per cent in Spain and -37 per cent in Italy.
The heavy truck segment shrank by 4.6 per cent, totaling 19,012 units. Germany (+2.5 per cent) and the UK (+1.6 per cent) saw their markets expand, while France (-5.8 per cent), Spain (-11.3 per cent) and Italy (-33.7 per cent) performed less well than in the same month a year ago.
In the first half-year, the EU registered 112,762 new trucks, or 6.1 per cent less than in the first six months of 2011. The UK was the only important market to post growth (+12.7 per cent). Germany (-3.0 per cent) and France (-4.6 per cent) contracted, while Spain (-21.4 per cent) and Italy (-28.9 per cent) faced a more severe downturn.