The data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) also shows that growth was sustained across all commercial vehicle segments, although results were diverse among the major markets, with Germany (-9.1%) and France (-5.6%) facing a downturn, while Spain (+30.1%) and the UK (+17.4%) posted double-digit growth.

Year to date, the market is up 11.6% to 832,782 commercial vehicles. During the same period, Spain (+34.1%), the UK (+22.6%) Italy (+7.5%) and Germany (+3.4%) all posted growth, while France recorded a slight decline (-1.0%).

For new light commercial vehicles up to 3.5t – ‘vans’ – May registrations rose 4.3% year on year to 131,883 units, marking the 21st consecutive month of growth. Spain (+24.3%), the UK (+15.1%), Italy (+3.0%) contributed positively to the upturn, while new van registrations fell in France (-8.5%) and Germany (-10.0%).

Year to date, the van sector was up 11.4% to 690,803 units. Spain (+33.5%), the UK (+20.7%), Italy (+7.1%) and Germany (+6.1%) saw their demand for vans increase over this period, while France recorded a slight decline (-1.5%).

For new heavy commercial vehicles over 16t (excluding Heavy Buses & Coaches) – ‘heavy trucks’ – the May results showed a 20.6% increase in registrations to 20,597 units. Spain (+92.0%) largely contributed to this positive outcome, sustained by the government “PIMA Transporte” incentive programme, followed by the UK (+37.8%), France (+28.0%) and Italy (+23.4%).

Five months into the year, the EU heavy truck market grew 17.8%, reaching 102,682 units. The UK (+62.6%), Spain (+37.2%), Italy (+14.3%) and France (+4.4%) saw their demand for heavy trucks increase, while the German market remained stable (+0.8%).

Growth was also seen in the new medium & heavy commercial vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – ‘trucks’. May registrations rose 16.1%. Among the major markets, Spain (+89.6%), the UK (+35.9%), France (+25.9%) and Italy (+14.2%) posted double-digit growth, while Germany (-6.8%) performed less well than in May 2014.

From January to May 2015, results for trucks were diverse, with Germany (-2.9%) performing less well than in the same period last year, while the UK (+44.5%) Spain (+34.0%) and Italy (+10.7%) recorded significant increases. Overall, the EU registered 126,876 new trucks (+12.8%).