The overall market data shows that YtD the UK was the only market to post growth (+6.7%), while Spain (-0.5%), France (-7.6%), Germany (-8.2%) and Italy (-18.5%) all saw their market contracts.

In July, demand was slightly up (+2.8%), mainly due to a calendar effect, as the month counted on average one more working day across the EU compared to July 2012. The UK market slipped by 0.9%, while the Italian shrank by 13.3%. France (+3.2%), Germany (+4.0%) and Spain (+25.8%) contributed positively to the overall upturn.


In August, Spain (+10.3%) and the UK (+15.3%) performed better than in the same month last year but negative results in France (-5.4%), Germany (-8.5%) and Italy (-19.5%) led to a 4.4% downturn in the whole region.

Looking at new light commercial vehicles up to 3.5t – “vans” – the YtD market shrank by 4.8% to 873,590, compared to the first eight months of 2012, mainly affected by the contraction recorded in the French (-7.4%), German (-7.6%) and Italian (-19.0%) markets. Spain (+1.7%) and the UK (+9.4%) registered more vehicles than in the same period last year.

July van registrations totalled 112,270 units, or 2.3% more than in the same month last year. The UK (-2.6%) and Italy (-13.0%) registered fewer vehicles, while Germany (+2.9%) and France (+3.0%) performed similarly. Spain recorded a double-digit growth (+28.1%).

August results were less positive, despite the expansion of the UK (+11.1%) and Spanish (+13.0%) markets. The decline recorded in France (-5.8%), Germany (-10.0%) and Italy (-20.9%) led to an overall 5.1% downturn. From January to August, the EU*market of vans

For new heavy commercial vehicles over 16t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – “heavy trucks” – YtD registrations fell 8.1% to 132,896 units. Registrations were up 6.5% in July however to 18,453 new registrations. Except for Italy (-23.4%), all major markets expanded, from +3.2% in Germany to +3.5% in Spain, +8.1% in France and 22.8% in the UK.

In August, overall demand in the EU was stable (+0.5%). Only the UK posted growth (+32.0%), as France (-3.8%), Germany (-5.4%), Italy (-7.8%) and Spain (-8.4%) all saw their market contract.

Within the sector for new commercial vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – “trucks” – the EU registered a total of 176,188 new trucks over the period, or 8.6% less than in the first eight months of 2012

In July, new truck registrations amounted to 24,380 units, or 4.9% more than in July 2012. Italy was the only major market to shrink (-18.8%), while Spain (+3.6%), France (+4.5%), Germany (+6.0%) and the UK (+11.8%) all expanded.

Results in August showed a 2.0% fall in new truck registrations in the EU, as Germany (-5.4%), Spain (-6.8%), France (-8.2%) and Italy (-15.3%) recorded fewer vehicles than in August last year. The UK stood out with a 27.1% expansion of its market.