Modest CV growth in April across Europe

26 June 2018

Registrations of new commercial vehicles in the EU grew modestly in May, rising 3.3% compared to the same period in 2017.

A total of 212,122 units were registered across the different vehicle markets in the month according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), as the market slowed down compared to a strong April, where the total market rose by 9.6%. Demand in May was sustained by the van and bus segments, while truck sales declined.

The total CV market grew in Spain, with 8.4%, and in France with a 2.1% rise. However, other European markets remained more or less stable, with the UK market growing 2.4%, the same amount as Germany, while Italian sales declined 2%.

So far in 2018, EU demand for new commercial vehicles increased by 4.1% with positive figures for four out of five months. New registrations so far this year have totalled more than one million vehicles, with Spain recording double-digit growth of 11.4%, followed by France with sales rising 5.5%, Italy up 3% and Germany increasing its market 2.9%. However, despite a rise in May, sales year-to-date in the UK decreased by 2.6%.

Varying sectors

In May 2018, light commercial vehicle registrations grew by 4.3%. All major EU markets performed well, except for Italy, which declined 2%. Spain (9.3%), Germany (2.4%), the United Kingdom (2.4%) and France (1.8%) all saw demand for vans increase last month. Overall, 176,545 new vans were registered across the European Union.

During the first five months of 2018, demand for new vans increased by 4.3%, totalling 857,431 vehicles. Growth was posted in Spain (11.7%), France (5.3%), Germany (4.8%) and Italy (1.1%). Demand for vans in the United Kingdom, however, fell by 1.4% so far this year.

May registrations of new heavy commercial vehicles contracted by 2.4% to 26,212 units. Results were diverse among the major EU markets, with heavy-truck sales increasing in Italy (13.8%), Spain (4.7%) and France (4.2%) but declining in the UK, down 22.3% and Germany, which was down 4.7%.

Five months into the year, EU demand remained positive, up 4.2% with 132,188 new heavy trucks registered so far. The Italian (17.9%), French (9.8%) and Spanish (9.2%) markets posted the strongest gains over this period, but demand fell in the United Kingdom by 10.2% and Germany by 1.3%.

The truck segment posted a slight decline of 2.2%. Overall, 32,170 new trucks were registered in the European Union last month. Even though demand declined in the UK (14.4%) and Germany (6.5%), it did grow in the other major EU markets and Italy (15.0%) in particular.

From January to May 2018, EU demand for new trucks went up by 3.5%, counting 160,793 units. Italy (15.0%), Spain (9.2%) and France (7.9%) all performed very well, although registrations did fall in the United Kingdom (8.6%) and Germany (1.6%) so far this year.

Finally, results show that demand for buses and coaches grew again last month (2.9%) after declining in April. In total, 3,407 new buses and coaches were registered, but results were diverse among the five major EU markets. Registrations fell in Germany (28.0%), the United Kingdom (10.3%) and Spain (6.9%), while Italy (29.2%) and France (19.3%) posted very positive results.

During the first five months of 2018, EU bus and coach registrations were slightly lower than one year ago (0.5%), counting 16,759 new vehicles.