EU truck registrations increase in Q1

ERJ staff report (DS)

Brussels -- New data from the federation of European vehicle manufacturers, ACEA, shows demand for new commercial vehicles In March was up 9.7 percent in the EU, compared to March last year. Of the 208,889 new registrations, 49,064 were recorded in the UK (+24.6 percent), 46,363 in France (+8.0 percent) and 30,730 in Germany (+19.4 percent). The month counted on average the same number of working days across the region in 2010 and 2011.

Over the first quarter of this year, new registrations amounted to 499,456 units, or 14.7 percent more than in the same period a year ago. All segments posted growth, except buses and coaches. In absolute figures, France recorded the most vehicles (+11.6 percent), followed by the UK (+30.0 percent) and Germany (+30.9 percent) which performed similarly.

Three months into the year, growth in the segment of heavy trucks was strong across the EU, resulting in an overall 65.0 percent increase. Greece was the only market to decline (-52.7 percent), while Spain expanded by 43.2 percent, Germany by 59.4 percent, France by 68.7 percent and the UK by 82.8 percent.

In March, heavy trucks continued to post the strongest rebound (+58.6 percent), recording 22,712 new units. All major markets also recorded double-digit upturns ranging from 44.0 percent in Germany to 47.8 percent in the UK, 48.2 percent in Spain and 72.7 percent in France.

In the first quarter, a total of 415,187 new vans was registered in the EU, or 10.2 percent more than in the same quarter in 2010. France (+8.5 percent) proved to be the largest market, with 109,696 new vans, followed by the UK (+31.0 percent) and Germany (+24.4 percent).

March results showed a 5.7 percent increase in new van registrations. France (+4.4 percent), Germany (+13.0 percent) and the UK (+27.0 percent) performed better than last year, while Spain saw its market contract by 10.4 percent.

Over the first quarter, 76,374 new mid-sized trucks were recorded in the EU, representing a 50.7 percent increase compared to the first three months of 2010. The EU recorded 30,592 new trucks in March, or 44.5 percent more than in the same month last year. Growth occurred across countries, reaching 22.1 percent in the Netherlands, 25.4 percent in the UK, 38.7 percent in Germany, 47.4 percent in Spain and 58.7 percent in France.

Cumulative results from January to March, showed a 1.8 percent decrease of the EU market for buses and coaches. The category of buses and coaches was the only one to decline in March (-13.0 percent). Looking at the most important markets, performances were diverse as Spain expanded by 55.2 percent while the UK shrank by 45.9 percent. Germany saw its market contract by 18.4 percent and France by 4.5 percent.

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Press release from ACEA