Commercial Vehicle Registrations Rise 4.7% in Europe

Demand for new commercial vehicles in the European Union increased 4.7 percent to 132,503 units in January, marking the fifth consecutive monthly increase. Van, truck and heavy-truck segments saw continued growth, while the market for buses and motor coaches contracted.

by Staff

March 4, 2014

2 min to read

Demand for new commercial vehicles in the European Union increased 4.7 percent to 132,503 units in January, marking the fifth consecutive monthly increase.

Van, truck and heavy-truck segments saw continued growth, while the market for buses and motor coaches contracted, reports the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).

The Spanish markets saw the steepest growth, rising 44.9%, while Italy also posted double-digit growth (12.2%). Demand grew in the United Kingdom by 5.3% and Germany by 5%. France was the only major market to record a decline, falling 5.1%.

Strong demand for vans helped that vehicle segment grow 5.3% to 109,019 vehicles. The increase was boosted by Spain (48.9%), the United Kingdom (12.9%), Italy (10%), and Germany (5%). Demand for vans in France fell 7.6%.

New heavy truck registrations grew 9.8% in January to 17,079 units. Germany was the largest market (3,622 units), posting 8.9% growth. France, the second largest market in January, saw its demand increase by 17.4%, reaching 3,569 units. Of the major markets, Spain (55%), posted the highest upturn, followed by Italy (31.4%) and Poland (23.4%). The United Kingdom market declined by 41.8%.

New truck registrations grew 3.2% in January to 21,040 units. Despite a moderate decline (1.2%), Germany remained the largest market in the month, registering 5,170 trucks. France, the second largest market in the same period (4,116 units), grew 12.5%. Spain (43%), Italy (27.3%), Belgium (26.1%) and Poland (21.6%) also saw their demand increase. Truck registrations in the United Kingdom fell by 38.3%.

Demand for new buses and coaches declined by 8.8% in January, dropping to 2,444 units. France (491 units) was the largest market in the month, posting a 16.1% increase in registrations. The United Kingdom (425 units) was the second largest market despite demand falling by 4.3%. In the same period, Germany contracted by 11.1%, totalling 375 units. Italy recorded 11.5% growth, reaching 282 units. At the same time, Spain saw its market for buses and coaches decline by 34%, dropping to 136 units.

Topics:Italy United Kingdom Germany Vehicle Registration Spain France Global Fleet

More Global Fleet

A person holding a clipboard and writing on an inspection checklist beside the wheel of a large white vehicle, likely conducting a fleet or safety inspection.

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention

Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.

Cover of a whitepaper titled “The Hidden Costs of Departmentally Assigned Vehicles on Your Fleet” featuring a black fleet vehicle driving on a road at sunset. Subheadline reads: “Discover how your fleet can reduce costs and minimize risk by implementing vehicle sharing.” The document focuses on fleet optimization, vehicle sharing, cost reduction, utilization tracking, and risk management for fleet operations.

Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools

Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.

Fleet Costs Are Rising: Here’s How Leaders Are Responding

Fleet leaders are under pressure to reduce costs, adapt to economic uncertainty, and make smarter decisions. See how peers across North America are responding with real data, proven strategies, and forward-looking insights. Download the 2026 Market Pulse Report to benchmark your strategy and uncover where you can gain an edge.