CV registrations up 13.5% in first half-year

Demand for new commercial vehicles were up 1.5% in June, compared to the same month a year ago. In total, 165,767 new vehicles were registered in the European Union.

However, while the UK (+12.8%) and Germany (+8.7%) posted growth, Spain (-12.7%) and France (-6.8%) performed less well.

In the first semester of 2011, registrations of new commercial vehicles amounted to 1,001,579 units, or 13.5% more than in the first half-year of 2010. Spain was the only major market to decline (-8.4%) while France (+8.5%), the UK (+23.8%) and Germany (+24.5%) all saw their markets expanded.

Looking at light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, a total of 136,888 new vans were registered in the European Union in June, or 1.3% less than in the same month last year. Results were diverse across major markets as France (-10.3%) and Spain (-15.2%) faced a downturn, while Germany (+8.7%) and the UK (+13.5%) posted growth.

In the first half-year, most vans were registered in France (222,722 units). The UK (133,238 units) and Germany (110,306 units) were the next most significant markets.

All three expanded by 5.1%, 24.2% and 19.9% respectively. Spain was the only major market to contract (-13.3%). Overall, the European Union recorded 826,268 new vans or 9.4% more than in the first six months of 2010.