Latest figures from the ACEA show that in July, demand for new commercial vehicle increased by 9.5%. The French market was down by 6.7%, while Germany (+3.4%), Italy (+23.7%), Spain (+24.5%) and the UK (+25.9%) contributed positively to the overall upturn.

Market growth also continued in August, with registrations up 6.1%, totalling 104,686 units and marking the 12 consecutive month of expansion. Growth prevailed in the segment of vans, while the truck and buses and coaches segments declined. All major markets expanded, except for France (-6.1%), from 7.7% in Germany to 10.5% in Italy, 10.7% in the UK and 17.6% in Spain.

From January to August, 1,171,120 new commercial vehicles were registered, or 9.1% more than in the same period last year. Looking at the largest markets, France remained stable (-1.0%), while Germany expanded by 7.5%. The UK (+12.8%), Italy (+15.1%) and Spain (+33.9%) posted double-digit growths.

For the segment of new light commercial vehicles up to 3.5t, July totalled 127,627 units, or 12.8% more than in the same month last year. France (-5.2%) registered fewer vehicles, while Germany expanded by 6.4%. Spain, Italy and the UK recorded a double-digit growth (+26.7%, +27.6% and 34.5% respectively).

In August all major markets expanded, except for France (-3.5%), from 11.5% in Italy to 13.4% in Germany, 19.3% in Spain and 22.3% in the UK, leading to an overall 10.2% upturn.

From January to August, the EU market of vans increase by 11.1%, compared to the first eight months of 2013, mainly affected by the significant growth recorded in the Italian (+16.9%), UK (+19.1%) and Spanish (+35.2%) markets. France remained stable (+0.3%), while Germany expanded by 7.9%. New van registrations in the EU* totalled 974,215 units over the period.

For new heavy commercial vehicles over 16t (excluding buses and coaches), July results were diverse, with France (-17.7%) and the UK (-17.2%) facing a downturn, while Spain (+11.4%) posted a double-digit growth leading to a 4.3% downturn in the whole region.

In August the same growth pattern could be observed for Germany (+2.4%) and Italy (+3.8%), while a consistent decrease in France (-16.4%) and the UK (-23.5%) was recorded, leading to an overall 6.1% downturn.

Over eight months, the region registered 3.0% more vehicles than in the same period last year and counted 135,837 new heavy trucks. Looking at the major markets, France (-9.0%) and the UK (-24.8%) performed less well than in the first eight months of 2013, while the Italian (+12.8%), German (+15.3%) and Spanish (+32.5%) markets expanded.

For new commercial vehicles over 3.5t (excluding buses and coaches), the July results were down 5.6% compared to June 2013, with a total of 23,001 new trucks. Germany (-3.2%), Italy (-3.5%), France (-17.8%) and the UK (-15.6%), saw their markets shrink, while Spain (+10.4%) registered more trucks than in the same month last year.

In August a majority of major markets registered a drop in truck registrations, from -4.4% in Germany to -15.4% in France and -20.8% in the UK. The Italian market expanded (+4.2%), while the Spanish remained stable (+0.7%).

From January to August, France (-10.2%) and the UK (-23.9%) faced a downturn, while demand was up in Italy (+3.4%), Germany (+6.7%) and Spain (+27.2%), leading to a stable situation in the whole region (-0.4%). In total, 175,604 new trucks were registered in the EU in the first eight months.