Demand for commercial vehicles in the EU was flat in November with new registrations up 0.1% to 167,315 units. Sales of vans and buses slowed down last month, while the heavy truck segment posted +6% to the tally.
The four biggest markets posted mixed performances in November, with registrations contracting in Spain (-7.0%) and France (-3.1%), while the Italian (+11.7%) and German (+4.3%) markets expanded.
Year-to-date reflects the ongoing Covid catastrophe. Sales at 1.5 million units were down -20.3% 11 months into 2020. All EU27 markets – including the four major ones – have recorded double-digit declines so far in 2020, although less steep than in the preceding months: Spain (-28.4%), France (-18.4%), Germany (-16.3%) and Italy (-15.6%).
From January to November 2020, new van registrations declined by -18.7% across the European Union, now standing at 1.3 million units. Spain recorded the sharpest drop (-28.8%) so far this year, while losses were less strong in France (-17.6%), Italy (-15.4%) and Germany (-13.4%).
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV) of 16t
Last month, the EU market for heavy trucks improved, with new registrations up by 6.0% to 20,620 units. Central European countries (+28.6%) largely contributed to this result. Among the largest Western European markets however, only Italy (+28.5%) grew.
So far in 2020, 181,590 new heavy commercial vehicles were registered across the European Union, a decline of -29.6% compared to 2019. Despite last month’s positive performance, each of the 27 EU markets recorded double-digit drops so far this year, including Germany (-28.6%), France (-27.9%), Spain (-23.9%) and Italy (-14.2%).
New Medium And Heavy Commercial Vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5t
In November 2020, demand for new medium and heavy trucks posted a modest upturn (+3.7%), benefiting from the positive performance of the heavy-duty segment (which makes up the bulk of total truck demand). As for the biggest EU markets, Italy recorded the strongest gain (+21.7%), followed by France (+1.3%) which posted a more modest growth. By contrast, MHCV registrations slid -3.0% in Germany and -1.0% in Spain.
Eleven months into the year, registrations of new trucks declined sharply across the European Union including in the four major markets: France (-26.2%), Germany (-26.1%), Spain (-23.3%) and Italy
(-15.1%). This contributed to a cumulative retreat of -27.7% to a total of 226,427 trucks registered so far in 2020.
New Medium And Heavy Buses & Coaches (MHBC) over 3.5t
In November 2020, new bus and coach registrations in the EU slid back by -5.1% compared to November last year. Although all major Western European markets – Italy (+27.0%), France (+13.4%), Germany (+11.6%) and Spain (+5.8%) – posted positive results, Central European countries (-22.6%) dragged down the overall performance of the region.
From January to November 2020, EU demand for buses and coaches contracted by -23.5%, counting 25,532 new registrations in total. Among the largest EU markets, Spain (-41.3%) and Italy (-27.3%) continued to struggle 11 months into the year, while losses were more limited in France (-9.5%) and Germany (-2.4%).
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
November EU Commercial Vehicle Sales Flat. YTD -20%
The four biggest markets posted mixed performances in November, with registrations contracting in Spain (-7.0%) and France (-3.1%), while the Italian (+11.7%) and German (+4.3%) markets expanded.
Year-to-date reflects the ongoing Covid catastrophe. Sales at 1.5 million units were down -20.3% 11 months into 2020. All EU27 markets – including the four major ones – have recorded double-digit declines so far in 2020, although less steep than in the preceding months: Spain (-28.4%), France (-18.4%), Germany (-16.3%) and Italy (-15.6%).
From January to November 2020, new van registrations declined by -18.7% across the European Union, now standing at 1.3 million units. Spain recorded the sharpest drop (-28.8%) so far this year, while losses were less strong in France (-17.6%), Italy (-15.4%) and Germany (-13.4%).
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV) of 16t
Last month, the EU market for heavy trucks improved, with new registrations up by 6.0% to 20,620 units. Central European countries (+28.6%) largely contributed to this result. Among the largest Western European markets however, only Italy (+28.5%) grew.
So far in 2020, 181,590 new heavy commercial vehicles were registered across the European Union, a decline of -29.6% compared to 2019. Despite last month’s positive performance, each of the 27 EU markets recorded double-digit drops so far this year, including Germany (-28.6%), France (-27.9%), Spain (-23.9%) and Italy (-14.2%).
New Medium And Heavy Commercial Vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5t
In November 2020, demand for new medium and heavy trucks posted a modest upturn (+3.7%), benefiting from the positive performance of the heavy-duty segment (which makes up the bulk of total truck demand). As for the biggest EU markets, Italy recorded the strongest gain (+21.7%), followed by France (+1.3%) which posted a more modest growth. By contrast, MHCV registrations slid -3.0% in Germany and -1.0% in Spain.
Eleven months into the year, registrations of new trucks declined sharply across the European Union including in the four major markets: France (-26.2%), Germany (-26.1%), Spain (-23.3%) and Italy
(-15.1%). This contributed to a cumulative retreat of -27.7% to a total of 226,427 trucks registered so far in 2020.
New Medium And Heavy Buses & Coaches (MHBC) over 3.5t
In November 2020, new bus and coach registrations in the EU slid back by -5.1% compared to November last year. Although all major Western European markets – Italy (+27.0%), France (+13.4%), Germany (+11.6%) and Spain (+5.8%) – posted positive results, Central European countries (-22.6%) dragged down the overall performance of the region.
From January to November 2020, EU demand for buses and coaches contracted by -23.5%, counting 25,532 new registrations in total. Among the largest EU markets, Spain (-41.3%) and Italy (-27.3%) continued to struggle 11 months into the year, while losses were more limited in France (-9.5%) and Germany (-2.4%).
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.