Slide in European truck registrations continues

ERJ staff report (DS)

Brussels -- The slide in registrations of new European trucks continued unabated in May, according to new data from ACEA. Overall registrations in May were 138 830 units, down by 39 percent compared to May in 2008. For the first five months, registrations were down by 37.6 percent. This was the thirteenth consecutive month that the figure fell.

In May, 115,342 new vans were registered, or 38.0% less than in May 2008. Among the major markets in Western Europe, Spain (-50.9 percent) and the UK (-50.4 percent) recorded the largest losses. From January to May, the European* market decreased by 37.3 percent. In the main markets, new van registrations fell by 24.8 percent in France, 27.8 percent in Germany, 30.9 percent in Italy, 46.6 percent in the UK, 52.5 percent in Spain, 22.6 percent in Poland and 54.9 percent in the Czech Republic.

New heavy truck (over 16 tonnes) registrations halved in May (-49.6 percent) compared to the same month last year, with total registrations stalling at 13,342 units. In Western Europe, the downturn ranged from 38.8 percent in France to 39.9 percent in Germany, 51.7 percent in the UK, 55 percent in Italy and 79.5 percent in Spain. Five months into the year, the trend was similar, with markets decreasing by 32.2 percent in Germany, 33.5 percent in France, 44.1 percent in Italy, 47.5 percent in the UK and 77.1 percent in Spain.

In the segment of mid-range trucks (over 3.5 tonnes, but under 16t), new registrations plunged by 44.8 percent in May, totaling 20,659 units. In the main markets, France recorded a drop of 32.2 percent, Germany 36.5 percent, the UK 44.0%, Italy 46.6 percent and Spain 73.5 percent. The year-to-date results showed an overall decline of 40.7%. Spain (-72.7 percent) was most severely hit among the major markets, while new registrations plunged by 38.6 percent in Italy and 39.0 percent in the UK.

In May, there were 28.6% fewer new buses and coaches registered in Europe compared to the same month last year. Five months into the year, the decline was 25.3 percent in the segment of buses and coaches although the downturn affected all the biggest markets.

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Press release from ACEA