The European market for new commercial vehicles continues to fall for the ninth month in a row. In March 2022, almost a quarter fewer trucks were bought and registered in the European Union than a year ago, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
A total of 153.6 thousand commercial vehicles were registered in March, which is 24.9% less than in the same month last year. This is the ninth month in a row that all EU countries, except Romania and Cyprus (+ 11.2% and + 1.6% respectively), have seen declining sales. Of the largest European markets, sales fell in Spain (-41.2%), France (-25.9%), Germany (-19.6%) and Italy (-9.7%). The Polish commercial vehicle market shrank by 18.8%.
In the first quarter of 2022, the number of registrations of new commercial vehicles in the EU decreased by 18.1% to 411,097 units. The four largest EU markets fell: Spain (-30.3%), France (-21.9%), Germany (-11.6%) and Italy (-4.8%). The Polish market lost 9.5%.
New LCVs weighing up to 3.5 tons
In March, 122,818 new LCVs were registered in the European Union, down 28.7% from a year earlier. Sales decreased the most in Spain (-46.5%), France (-28.6%), Germany (-22.2%) and Italy (-10.7%). The Polish market decreased by 20.1% compared to last year (6,140 registrations).
From January to March, sales of light commercial vehicles in the EU fell by -21.3% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 329,606 units. The largest declines were recorded in Spain (-35.7%), France (-24.2%), Germany (-13.6%) and Italy (-5.3%).
Commercial vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tons
Last month, 28,333 new medium and heavy commercial vehicles were registered in the European Union, which is 6.6% less than in the same period last year. If we consider the four key markets in the region, only Italy showed growth (+ 0.9%). The largest decreases were recorded in Germany (-11.6%), Spain (-4.8%) and France (-1.9%).
In the first quarter of 2022, sales of new commercial vehicles of this type in the European Union fell by 2.0% to almost 75,000 units. Among the four largest EU markets, Germany and France recorded declines (-5.2% and -1.0%, respectively), while Spain and Italy boast moderate growth (+ 2.9% and + 0.4%).
Heavy commercial vehicles weighing 16 tons or more
In March, truck sales in the European Union fell 4.6% to 24,088. Germany and Spain recorded declines (-9.2% and -5.8%, respectively), while Italy and France reported slight increases (+ 1.9% and + 1.6%, respectively).
In the first quarter, 64,336 such trucks were registered in the EU, which is 0.6 percent more than in the same period last year. This slight increase is due to the good results of the first two months of 2022. With the exception of Germany (-1.0%), all major Western European markets showed growth: Spain (+ 4.5%), France (+ 3.1%) and Italy (+ 0.8%).
Buses
In March 2022, the number of registrations of new buses on the EU market increased by 21.6%, reaching 2,402 units. Such a good result was ensured by growth in several EU markets. Thus, in Spain the market grew by 167.7%, in France — by 15.8%. In Italy, on the other hand, they fell by 29.2% and in Germany by 8.8%. In Poland, the bus market also grew by 36%.
In total, 6,541 new buses were registered in the EU from January to March, which is 0.2% less than in the same period last year. With the exception of Spain (+ 52.8%), sales fell in all major EU markets: in Italy by 15.7%, in Germany by 10.1% and in France by -2.8%.
According to IBRM Samar
