Commercial vehicle registrations up 4.5% in Sept

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Brussels - Demand for new commercial vehicles was up 4.5 percent in the EU, supported by positive results in Spain (+4.7%), Germany (+7.7%) and the UK (+8.7%), according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). However, new registrations in France declined (-3.5%).

From January to September, most major markets posted growth, ranging from 5.2 percent in France to 18.6 percent in the UK and 21.2 percent in Germany, leading to an overall 11.1 percent upturn in the region. Compared to the same period last year, Spain was the only country to perform less well, seeing a 5.3 percent decline.

In September, new van registrations totalled 143 086 units, or 3.3 percent more than in the same month a year ago. Spain (+6.0%), Germany (+8.6%) and the UK (+9.4%) all saw their markets expand, while France faced a 6.9 percent downturn, ACEA said in a 27 Oct report. Nine months into the year, the EU recorded 1 177 250 new vans, or 7.7 percent more than in the first nine months of 2010. Looking at the major markets, the UK (+18.5%) and Germany (+19.1%) posted a doubledigit growth, France grew by 1.8 percent and Spain shrank by 9 percent.

Across segments, heavy trucks increased the most in September (+16.6%), with a total of 175 527 new registrations. Growth prevailed in all significant markets, ranging from 11.4 percent in Spain and the UK to 12.4 percent in Germany and 24.8 percent in France. From January to September, all EU markets posted growth, except Greece (-58.5%), leading to a 44.3 percent increase of new heavy truck registrations in the region. The upturn was strong in Spain (+26.6%), Germany (+32.0%), the UK (+47.8%) and France (+52.9%), according to ACEA.

In September, new truck registrations were up 13 percent in the EU. Growth prevailed in all major markets, reaching 7.3 percent in Germany, 10.4 percent in the UK, 13.3 percent in Spain and 25.8 percent in France. Cumulative results from January to September showed a 34.8 percent increase in new truck registrations which amounted to 234 108 units, the report said. Spain (+25.5%), Germany (+27.8%), the UK (+31.0%) and France (+45.9%) all posted a double-digit growth.

The segment of buses and coaches was the only one to decline in September (-10.2%). All major markets were down, except France (+70.0%) which remained the biggest one. From January to September, demand for new buses and coaches was down 2.7 percent, with diverse performances across markets. France (+10.7%) and Spain (+20.4%) recorded more vehicles than in the same period last year, while Germany slightly contracted (-1.4%) and the UK (-27.8%) faced a more important downturn.

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Press release from ACEAp>