In May 2018, registrations of new commercial vehicles in the EU grew modestly (+3.3 per cent) compared to April’s strong performance, with 212,122 units registered in total, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
Demand for total new commercial vehicles was reportedly sustained by the van and bus segments, while truck sales declined in May. The Spanish and French markets posted growth (+8.4 per cent) and +2.1 per cent, respectively), but the other major European markets remained more or less stable compared to May 2017.
So far in 2018, EU demand for new commercial vehicles increased by 4.1 per cent, with positive figures for four out of five months. New registrations totalled more than one million units over this period. Spain recorded double-digit growth figures (+11.4 per cent), followed by France (+5.5 per cent), Italy (+3.0 per cent) and Germany (+2.9 per cent). By contrast, demand for commercial vehicles decreased by 2.6 per cent in the UK compared to last year.
In May 2018, light commercial vehicle registrations (LCVs up to 3.5 tonnes) grew by 4.3 per cent. All major EU markets performed well, except for Italy (-2.0 per cent). Spain (+9.3 per cent), Germany (+2.4 per cent), the UK (+2.4 per cent) and France (+1.8 per cent) all saw demand for vans increase last month. Overall, 176,545 new vans were registered across the EU.
During the first five months of 2018, demand for new vans increased by 4.3 per cent, totalling 857,431 vehicles. Growth was posted in Spain (+11.7 per cent), France (+5.3 per cent), Germany (+4.8 per cent) and Italy (+1.1 per cent). Demand for vans in the United Kingdom, however, fell by 1.4% so far this year.
May registrations of new heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs 16 tonnes and over) contracted by 2.4 per cent to 26,212 units. Results were diverse among the major EU markets, with heavy-truck sales increasing in Italy (+13.8 per cent), Spain (+4.7 per cent) and France (+4.2 per cent) but declining in the UK (-22.3 per cent) and Germany (-4.7 per cent).
Five months into the year, EU demand remained positive (+4.2 per cent) – 132,188 new heavy trucks were registered so far. The Italian (+17.9 per cent), French (+9.8 per cent) and Spanish (+9.2 per cent) markets posted the strongest gains over this period, but demand fell in the United Kingdom (-10.2 per cent) and Germany (-1.3 per cent).
In May 2018, the truck segment posted a slight decline (-2.2 per cent). Overall, 32,170 new trucks were registered in the European Union last month. Even though demand declined in the UK (-14.4 per cent) and Germany (-6.5 per cent), it did grow in the other major EU markets and Italy (+15.0 per cent) in particular.
From January to May 2018, EU demand for new trucks went up by 3.5 per cent, counting 160,793 units. Italy (+15 per cent), Spain (+9.2 per cent) and France (+7.9 per cent) all performed very well, although registrations did fall in the United Kingdom (-8.6 per cent) and Germany (-1.6 per cent) so far this year.