In September, demand for new commercial vehicles was up 4.5% in the EU, supported by positive results in Spain (+4.7%), Germany (+7.7%) and the UK (+8.7%) although new registrations in France declined 3.5%.

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

Looking at new light commercial vehicles up to 3.5t – “vans”- new van registrations for September totalled 143,086 units, or 3.3% 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% downturn.

Nine months into the year, the EU recorded 1,177,250 new vans, or 7.7% more than in the first nine months of 2010. Looking at the major markets, the UK (+18.5%) and Germany (+19.1%) posted a double-digit growth, France grew by 1.8% and Spain shrank by 9.0%.

However, it was the segment for new heavy commercial vehicles over 16t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – “heavy trucks” – that saw the biggest growth in September, with registrations up 16.6% to a total of 175,527 new registrations. Growth prevailed in all significant markets, ranging from 11.4% in Spain and the UK to 12.4% in Germany and 24.8% in France.

From January to September, all EU markets posted growth, except Greece (-58.5%), leading to a 44.3% 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%).

For new commercial vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – “trucks” – new truck registrations were up 13.0% in the EU in September. All major markets saw growth, reaching 7.3% in Germany, 10.4% in the UK, 13.3% in Spain and 25.8% in France.

Cumulative results from January to September showed a 34.8% increase in new truck registrations, which amounted to 234,108 units. Spain (+25.5%), Germany (+27.8%), the UK (+31.0%) and France (+45.9%) all posted a double-digit growth.