Although the EU counted on average two more working days in April 2013 compared to the same month in 2012, demand for heavy commercial vehicles in the Eurozone remains weak, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
In April, demand for new trucks over 3.5 tonnes was down 5.2 per cent in the Eurozone, totaling 24,066 units. The downturn prevailed across significant markets, ranging from -3.4 per cent in Germany to -3.9 per cent in the Netherlands, -4.4 per cent in Italy, -4.5 per cent in France, -12.9 per cent in the UK and -16.1 per cent in Spain.
From January to April, all important markets recorded a double-digit decline as demand dropped by 12.9 per cent in France, 14.6 per cent in Germany, 15.4 per cent in the UK, 17.7 per cent in Italy, 19.4 per cent in Spain and 20.2 per cent in the Netherlands, leading to an overall 13.8 per cent contraction in the region. Germany remained the largest market in the truck segment, accounting for over 30 per cent of the 86,251 new registrations.
Meanwhile, new registrations of heavy trucks above 16 tonnes in Europe decreased by 5.8 per cent in April, with 18,252 units recorded. The Italian market slightly expanded (+2.7 per cent), while the German (-2.0 per cent), Dutch (-3.3 per cent), French (-4.8 per cent), Spanish (-17.5 per cent) and UK (-17.9 per cent) contracted.
Over four months, all significant markets shrank, from -13.6 per cent in France to -13.7 per cent in Italy, -14.0 per cent in the UK, -14.4 per cent in Germany, -18.1 per cent in the Netherlands and -19.7 per cent in Spain, leading to an overall 13.8 per cent downturn in the EU.
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