European commercial vehicle registrations advance 8.9% in November 2013

Jan. 1, 2014
  November 2013 registrations of commercial vehicles were up 8.9%, growing for the third consecutive month and totaling 152,439 units, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

November 2013 registrations of commercial vehicles were up 8.9%, growing for the third consecutive month and totaling 152,439 units, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

All segments benefitted from the upturn. France was the only market to contract (-2.2%), while Italy (+1.1%), Germany (+10.0%), the United Kingdom (+22.8%), and Spain (+26.0%) performed better than in the same month of 2012. From January to November, the EU recorded 1,541,856 new commercial vehicles, or 1.7% less than in the first 11 months of 2012. Results varied across markets as the Spanish (+6.3%) and the UK (+10.7%) expanded, while the German (-4.3%), French (-5.5%), and Italian (-14.2%) faced a downturn.

New heavy commercial vehicles over 16 tonnes (excluding buses and coaches—heavy trucks—The segment of heavy trucks increased the most in November, growing by 30.8% with a total of 22,483 new registrations. All significant markets expanded, from France (+15.0%) to Germany (+20.3%), Italy (+22.5%), the UK (+37.1%), and Spain (+41.4%). Over 11 months, the UK was the only major market to sustain demand (+12.5%). Elsewhere, downturn ranged from -2.4% in Spain to -4.5% in France, -5.6% in Germany, and -10.6% in Italy, leading to a slight contraction of the European Union market (-0.6%), which registered 197,905 new heavy trucks.

New commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (excluding buses and coaches—trucks—In November, new truck registrations amounted to 28,787 units, or 24.5% more than in November 2012. All major markets posted double-digit growths ranging from +12.3% in Germany to +13.6% in Italy, +13.7% in France, +30.6% in Spain, and +38.8% in the UK. From January to November, the UK was the only significant market to expand (+7.9%). Spain (-3.9%), France (-5.8%), Germany (-5.9%), and Italy (-14.2%) all performed less well than in the first 11 months of 2012. Overall, the EU recorded a total of 260,862 new trucks, or 2.1% less than in the same period of 2012.

New buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes—In November, the EU counted 2,708 new bus and coach registrations, or 5.5% more than in the same month of 2012. Germany remained the largest market in spite of a 2.1% downturn. All other major markets saw demand for new buses and coaches increase, from +8.5% in Italy to +8.8% in France, +30.0% in Spain, and +38.1% in the UK. From January to November, the UK proved to be the largest market (-7.2%), followed by France (+9.7%), Germany (+6.8%), Italy (+3.1%), and Spain (-3.8%). Over 11 months, the number of new bus and coach registrations remained stable (-0.0%), amounting to 28,807 units.

New light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes—vans—In November, demand for new vans was up 5.8%, amounting to 120,944 units. Looking at the major markets, the Italian remained stable (-0.3%), while the French shrank by 4.2%, and the UK (+19.4%) and Spanish (+25.0%) posted a double-digit growth. Eleven months into the year, new van registrations increased in both Spain (+8.3%) and the UK (+11.7%). ♦