UK Heavy Vehicle Sales Plummet During February

Monthly figures released by the ACEA show UK dismal sales of heavy commercial vehicles for February 2007 compared with data recorded a year earlier. These results contrasted with Europe-wide figures that revealed mild growth in most market segments.

New UK registrations of commercial vehicles weighing 16 tonnes and over were down by 28.4 per cent on February 2006, with only 1,372 vehicle registrations. This was the largest percentage decrease measured anywhere in Europe, and the ACEA attribute these figures to the decline in orders experienced after the Euro 4 emission regulation came into effect last October. Throughout the EU an average 11.2 per cent increase in registrations was recorded.

Heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes faired even worse, with new UK registrations dropping by 31.1 per cent on February 2006 figures, with only 2,337 vehicles registered. Once again, EU figures had a more positive ring to them, revealing a 6 per cent increase.

Down also were bus and coach registrations. Only 588 were recorded for the entire month, 12.1 per cent less than February 2006. This result was slightly worse than the EU average of 9.8 per cent.

The only ray of sunshine in an otherwise negative month for the UK commercial vehicle market was that of the light commercial segment. New registrations of vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes increased by 0.3 per cent over February 2006, with 14,513 new vehicles taking to the road. Throughout the EU registrations went of light commercials went up by 3.8 per cent during the month.