Demand for new commercial vehicles in Europe fell 12.4 per cent in August, totaling 102,877 units, according to a report by the European Automotive Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). After a 5.1 per cent drop in July, the downturn prevailed across all major markets, ranging from -6 per cent in Germany to -11.5 per cent in the UK, -15.5 per cent in France and -25.0 per cent in Spain to -27.2 per cent in Italy.
From January to August, the EU recorded 1,131,238 new vehicles, or 10.3 per cent less than in the same period a year earlier. Germany (-2.5 per cent), the UK (-4.0 per cent), France (-7.0 per cent), Spain (-24.9 per cent) and Italy (-35.3 per cent) all saw their markets contract.
The heavu-duty segment alone experienced a 9.7 per cent downturn. Only the UK posted a slight growth (+0.7 per cent), while Germany (-10.8 per cent), France (-14.0 per cent), Spain (-17.8 per cent) and Italy (-36.8 per cent) all faced a double-digit drop in this category.