EU new commercial vehicles registrations up 5.1% in April

LONDON (ICIS)–Demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU in April increased 5.1% year on year, with growth in all types of vehicles apart from trucks and heavy trucks, the European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (ACEA) said on Wednesday.

With 151,571 units sold in April, Europe’s vehicle manufacturers have sold in the four months of 2014 a total of 595,170 units, representing a growth of 8.7% in the year to April, said ACEA. 

Among the big European economies, sales of new vehicles in Spain jumped in April 54.6% year on year, while Italy’s rose 15.2% and France’s 0.4%. Sales in Germany, however, decreased 2.1% while in the UK they fell 3.6%.

Year to date, all major markets except France registered growth in new vehicles sales. In the first four months of 2014 Spain saw sales increasing 43.3%, Italy 14.4%, the UK 7.1% and Germany 6.7%. France’s sales declined in the period 0.4%.

By vehicle type, sales of vans grew by 6.4% in April year on year, with sales in Spain (up 57.6%) and Italy (up 16.9%) rising sharply, showing the economic recovery might be taking hold in the southern European countries beleaguered by the sovereign debt crisis.

Sales of trucks registered a 2.9% decrease in April year on year, with Germany (-0.5%), France (-15.7%) and the UK (-29.6%) posting falls, although Spain (33.9%) and Italy (10.2%) both registered notable increases.

Heavy trucks sales declined 0.7% in April year on year, although Spain (29.8%), Italy (4.8%) and Germany (3.9%) registered gains. The UK (-29.3%) and France (-15.3%) posted decreases.  

Demand for buses and coaches increased by 20.4%. Among the largest economies, the UK (up 44.7%), Spain (31.7%) and Germany (4.1%) posted gains, while France (-7.9%) and Italy (-31.6%) registered declines.

Source: European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association.