New commercial vehicle demand across the European Union (EU) in the first half of this year was 832,093 units, down 6.9 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). Looking at new registrations in the major markets in the EU-27 region, in the first half of the year the UK market expanded by 7.2 percent, while the French market remained the largest market despite a 9.1 percent year-on-year contraction. In the first six months of this year, new registrations in Spain fell by six percent, while in Germany a 10.2 percent contraction was seen, both year on year. Italy recorded a more severe year-on-year drop of 19.5 percent.
In the first half of the current year, new van registrations were down 5.9 percent in the EU, totaling 684,499 units, while new heavy commercial vehicle registrations in the EU declined by 11.3 percent to 100,456 units, both compared to January-June 2012. In the first six months this year, the EU registered a 11.5 percent year-on-year drop in registrations of new trucks to 132,900. In the meantime, new bus and coach registrations fell by 8.1 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, amounting to 14,694 vehicles.
According to the ACEA, in June this year new commercial vehicle registrations in the EU continued their downward trend, declining by 4.8 percent with a total of 149,996 units. In June this year, a downturn prevailed across all segments, from -4.2 percent for vans to -14 percent for buses and coaches. New commercial vehicle registrations in the Spanish market increased 14.7 percent in June compared to June 2012, while the UK saw an expansion of 3.7 percent year on year. Meanwhile, in June Germany (-7.1 percent), France (-9.3 percent) and Italy (-13.1 percent) saw fewer commercial vehicle registrations than in June 2012.