European CV registrations – the slide continues in May

In May, ACEA figures show that new commercial vehicle registrations continued the downward trend commenced in January, facing the sharpest decrease since 2009 (-17.8 per cent , compared to May 2011). The UK was the only market to post growth in the month (+10.0 per cent ), while Germany (-13.6 per cent ), France (-22.1 per cent), Spain (-27.4 per cent ) and Italy (-42.4 per cent ) all recorded double-digit downturns. From January to May, the EU market shrank by 11.8 per cent, compared to the first five months of 2011.

The decline ranged from -4.0 per cent in Germany to -6.2 per cent in the UK, -8.5 per cent  in France, -24.8 per cent  in Spain and -37.9 per cent  in Italy. In total, 735,993 new vehicles were recorded throughout the period. 

New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t 

In May, the EU recorded 118,477 new vans, or 19.0 per cent less than in May last year. Looking at the major markets, the UK was the only one to expand (+6.7 per cent), while Germany (-13.9 per cent), France (-22.7 per cent ), Spain (-26.4 per cent ) and Italy (-41.9 per cent ) all contracted. Five months into the year, downturn prevailed across markets, ranging from -3.6 per cent in Germany to -9.0 per cent  in France, -11.7 per cent  in the UK, -24.3 per cent  in Spain and -38.7 per cent  in Italy. In total, new van registrations were down 13.3 per cent, amounting to 597,740 units. 

New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding Buses & Coaches) 

In May, demand for heavy trucks fell by 14.2 per cent, as 18,562 new units were registered in the EU. The UK performed better than in the same month last year (+15.8 per cent ), while the other major markets registered fewer new trucks: -13.8 per cent  in Germany, -14.4 per cent  in France, -36.1 per cent  in Spain and -41.8 per cent  in Italy. 

From January to May, the EU totalled 93,757 new heavy trucks, or 6.3 per cent less than in the same period last year. Germany (-4.1 per cent) and France (-4.3 per cent ) performed similarly, while Spain (-23.2 per cent ) and Italy (-27.9 per cent ) posted double-digit downturns. The UK saw its demand increase by 14.9 per cent. 

New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) 

This segment grew by 13.4 per cent in May, totalling 25,034 units. Results were negative in Germany (-12.9 per cent), France (-14.4 per cent), Spain (-35.2 per cent) and Italy (-43.9 per cent), while the British market expanded by 20.8 per cent. 

From January to May, new truck registrations were down 5.7 per cent in the EU. Among the major markets, the British was the only one to post growth (+24.6 per cent), while the French (-3.2 per cent), German (-5.4 per cent), Spanish (-24.2 per cent) and Italian (-31.9 per cent) all contracted. In total, 125,145 new trucks were registered. 

New Buses & Coaches over 3.5t 

In May, new bus and coach registrations were down 3.5 per cent, despite the good performance of the British market (+109 per cent), which remained the largest. From January to May, the positive results in the UK (+61.1 per cent) and Germany (+2.6 per cent), the two largest markets, counterbalanced the downturn recorded in France (-18.9 per cent), Italy (-30.9 per cent) and Spain (-42.5 per cent), leading to an overall 3.1 per cent increase of the EU market. pg