European CV sales still on the rise

ERJ staff report (DS)

Brussels - According to new data from ACEA, the European federation of vehicle manufacturers, demand for new commercial vehicles continued to increase in December 2010 (+12.5 percent) across segments, except for

buses and coaches (-1.4 percent). Cumulative results from January to December also showed the expansion of the

EU* markets for vans and trucks while registrations of buses and coaches declined, leading to an overall 8.0 percent

growth in the region during 2010.

The segment of heavy trucks posted the strongest increase in December (+70.2 percent) coming from the low levels

recorded in December 2009 (-39.4 percent). All major markets posted growth. Germany remained the largest with

4,496 heavy trucks registered, followed by France (2,842 units), the UK (2,220), Spain (960) and Italy (904).

From January to December, demand for heavy trucks grew by 8.4 percent in the EU*, sustained by the Spanish

(+22.1 percent), German (+21.4 percent) and British (+5.0 percent) markets. Italy (-3.4 percent) and France (-1.4 percent) performed slightly less

well in 2010 than in 2009.

In December, registrations of new trucks (over 3.5 tonnes) increased by 47.8 percent in the EU*. Looking at the largest markets, France

(+50.9 percent), the UK (+51.6 percent) and Germany (+57.4 percent) performed similarly, posting strong growths. Italy and Spain

expanded by 18.6 percent and 15.0 percent respectively.

Over 2010, a total of 249,869 new trucks were registered in the EU*, or 6.4 percent more than in 2009. Results were

mixed across countries as registrations slipped by 0.8 percent and 0.9 percent in the UK and France, while they were down

5.0 percent in Italy and up 12.1 percent and 19.7 percent in Spain and Germany respectively.

In December, new van registrations (up to 3.5 tonnes) were up 8.4 percent. Germany (+33.6 percent), the UK (+21.9 percent) and France (+6.4 percent)

contributed most to the upturn. Italy and Spain saw their markets decrease by 7.1 percent and 2.7 percent respectively.

Over twelve months, registrations of new vans amounted to 1,488,848 units, or 8.7 percent more than in 2009. All

majors markets posted growth, ranging from +6.2 percent in Italy to 8.8 percent in Spain, 11.5 percent in France, 16.0 percent in Germany

and 19.5 percent in the UK. The steepest downturn was recorded in Slovakia (-56.0 percent) while the Swedish market

expanded the most (+38.3 percent).

The segment of buses and coaches was the only one to decline in December (-1.4 percent), in spite of positive results

observed in Spain (+32.0 percent) and Italy (+74.7 percent). The downturn ranged from -18.1 percent in Germany to -22.4 percent in the

UK and -33.9 percent in France.

From January to December, registrations of new buses and coaches fell by 10.4 percent. Italy was the only significant

market to post growth (+24.5 percent) while Germany (-7.0 percent), Spain (-8.2 percent), the UK (-13.2 percent) and France (-20.5 percent) all

saw their markets contract.

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Press release from ACEA