CV registrations down 2.6% in the UK, increase in Europe

Commercial vehicle registrations in the UK continued to buck the European trend in May and once again declined in comparison with last year. According to figures released by the National Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), total registrations of new commercial vehicles in the UK decreased 2.6 per cent year-on-year in May to 32,127 units. Total European commercial vehicle registrations within the Union rose 9.0 per cent year-on-year to 204,770 units.

Spain and Germany saw the highest percentage gains, respectively rising 19.3 per cent and 13.2 per cent, followed by the Italian and French markets, were registrations respectively increased by 9.2 per cent and 7.9 per cent.

Five months into the year, the EU market expanded by 4.6 per cent over the same period of 2016, to 992,247 vehicles. During that period, Spain posted the strongest results and was up 15.5 per cent to 93,099 units. This strong performance was followed by 7.8 per cent year-on-year growth in Italy, 7.0 per cent in France and 4.3 per cent growth in Germany. The UK market contracted by 3.8 per cent over the five months to 171,855 units.

New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5 tonnes

In May 2017, new registrations of light commercial vehicles in the EU totalled 168,958 units, up 8.4 per cent compared to the same month in 2016. Spain (+21.1 per cent), Germany (+11.6 per cent), Italy (+9.2 per cent) and France (+7.6 per cent) all recorded substantial increases, while demand for vans in the United Kingdom decreased 5.3 per cent.

From January to May 2017, 821,534 new vans were registered in the EU, 5.0 per cent more than last year. The United Kingdom was the only major market where demand fell; new registrations decreased 5.0 per cent to 147,577 units. Spain (+18.2 per cent), France (+7.6 per cent), Germany (+5.2 per cent) and Italy (+5.1 per cent) all posted substantial increases.

New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) over 16 tonnes

May 2017 results show a strong increase in the heavy truck segment, with 26,572 new vehicles registered in the EU, 13.5 per cent more than a year earlier. The UK and French markets did very well in May; UK registrations rose 22.6 per cent to 3,245 units, and French registrations increase 15.0 per cent to 3,740. Demand in Spain was 0.5 per cent down.

During the first five months of 2017, the EU market grew by 2.9 per cent, reaching 125,575 heavy trucks registered. All five big markets except for Spain posted growth during this period; UK registrations were up 4.5 per cent to 14,576.

New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5 tonnes

In May 2017, truck registrations went up again after the slowdown observed in April. The UK market experienced a 17.4 per cent year-on-year growth, to 4,437 units, while the German market rose 16.7 per cent and the French market 14.8 per cent. In total, 32,560 new trucks were registered in the European Union, up 12.4 per cent compared to May 2016.

From January to May 2017, 154,347 new trucks were registered in the EU, 2.5 per cent more than last year. As in the HCV segment, four of the five big markets posted growth, while demand fell in Spain. The UK market grew 5.1 per cent, to 20,926 new registrations.

New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5 tonnes

In May 2017, 3,252 new buses and coaches were registered across the region, 4.1 per cent more than a year earlier. Demand fell 33.6 per cent in France and 2.9 per cent in the UK (to 708 units), while Italy (71.6 per cent), Germany (28.4 per cent) and Spain (14.7 per cent) all posted strong growth.

Five months into the year, the EU bus and coach market grew by 4.2 per cent, counting 16,366 vehicles registered. Demand decreased 20.2 per cent in France and 1.8 per cent in the United Kingdom to 3,352 units), but new bus and coach registrations went up in Italy (48.5 per cent), Spain (13.7 per cent) and Germany (13.4 per cent).