Demand for new commercial vehicles resumed its downward trend in May, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) reported on Friday. According to ACEA, the slight increase in April (+3.6 per cent) has to be attributed to a calendar effect.
Downturn prevailed across segments, leading to an overall 7.4 per cent decrease in the EU, which counted a total of 135,587 new vehicles.
The Spanish market remained stable (+0.4 per cent), while the UK (-4.0 per cent), Germany (-9.6 per cent), France (-11.2 per cent) and Italy (-16.2 per cent) registered fewer vehicles than in May 2012.
From January to May, the UK was the only major market to expand (+8 per cent). The decline ranged from -9.4 per cent in France to -10.2 per cent in Spain, -10.9 per cent in Germany and -21.3 per cent in Italy.
A total of 681,337 new commercial vehicles were registered in the region, or 7.5 per cent less than in the first five months of last year.