New figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) also showed that the EU market has expanded by 8.0% for the first two months of the year.

Total commercial vehicle registrations in February totalled 135,778 units. Growth was sustained across all segments of commercial vehicles. Looking at the largest markets, Spain recorded the highest upturn (+29.5%) followed by the UK (+19.4) and Italy (+8.7%), while demand in Germany remained roughly stable (+1.0%). France was the only major market recording a decline (-4.3%). Significant growth was also posted by the new EU member states (+20.4%) contributing to last month’s positive outcome across the region.

In the first two months of the year, the EU market totalled 278,376 commercial vehicles. During the same period, Spain (+27.7%), the UK (+21.9%), Italy (+5.2%) and Germany (+3.1%) all posted growth, while France was the only major market recording a decline (-7.0%).

For new light commercial vehicles up to 3.5t – ‘vans’ – February registrations totalled 112,593 units, or 9.5% more than in February 2014. This marked the eighteenth consecutive month of growth in this segment, which accounts for the majority of sales in the commercial vehicle market. Spain (+27.7%), the UK (+17.9%), Germany (+9.2%) and Italy (+8.8%) contributed positively to the upturn, while France (-2.6%) performed less well than in February 2014.

From January to February 2015, 229,727 new vans were registered in the EU or 8.5% more than in the same period last year. France (-5.5%) was the only major market to post a decline, while Spain (+29.3%), the UK (+20.2%), Italy (+6.0%) and Germany (+5.2%) saw their demand for vans increase.

Looking at new heavy commercial vehicles over 16t (excluding Heavy Buses & Coaches) – ‘heavy trucks’ – February 2015 results showed an 8.1% increase in registrations, totalling 17,185 units. This positive outcome was mainly sustained by the significant growth recorded in the UK (+52.1%), Spain (+48.9%) and Italy (+15.2%), while heavy truck registrations dropped in France (-14.8%) and Germany (-9.3%). Noteworthy was the contribution of the new EU member states (+19.5%) to last month positive outcome.

Two months into the year, the EU market grew by 8.2%, reaching 35,732 units. The UK (+55.4%), Spain (+16.2%), Germany (+4.5%) and Italy (+4.1%) saw their demand for heavy trucks increase, while French market declined by -18.6%.

For new medium & heavy commercial vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – ‘trucks’ – February results were diverse, with France (-17.2%) and Germany (-15.3%) performing less well than in February 2014, while Italy (+9.3%), the UK (+30.5%) and Spain (+42.9%) recorded a significant increase. Overall, the EU recorded 21,048 new trucks, or 2.0% more than in February 2014.

From January to February 2015, 43,541 new trucks were registered in the EU, 4.4% more than in the same period last year. Among major markets only the UK (+33.0%), Spain (+16.5%) and Italy posted growth (+1.9%).