COVID-19: Euro trucks sales hit hard

The fallout from COVID-19 continues in Europe, where registrations of new commercial vehicles fell by 67 per cent in April. The year-to-date figure for the first four months of 2020, meanwhile, was down by 34.5%.

The figures, released recently by ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association), shine a light on the drastic and widespread impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The virus forced most of Europe into lockdown for the full month of April and, as a consequence, closed dealerships across the continent.

The pandemic affected all 27 EU member nations and every vehicle segment, said the ACEA, with the biggest drops sustained in the countries hit hardest by the virus.

During April new truck and commercial vehicle registrations fell by 87.8% in Spain, 85.5% in Italy, and 82.4% in France.

The figures were also grim for the first four months of 2020, the cumulative totals equating with falls of 46.6% in Spain, 41.6% in France, and 41.4% in Italy.

In Germany, where the control and suppression of the virus has been more successful, total new commercial vehicle registrations contracted by 22.5% to the end of April.

Across Europe, registrations of new light commercial vehicles up to 3.5t fell by 69.6% (to 46,264) in April and 35.1% over the first four months of 2020.

For new heavy commercial vehicles (16t and over), new registrations fell by 58.5% for April across Europe, and by 35.4% year to date to the end of April.

The corresponding figures were a drop of 54.8% (April) and a drop of 33.0% (year to date to the end of April) for new medium and heavy commercial vehicles over 3.5t.

New registrations of buses and coaches over 3.5t fell by 66.8% in April, and by a more modest 20.1% over the first four months of 2020.

The situation in Australia, meanwhile, is significantly brighter. In April registrations of new trucks and commercial vehicles in this country were down 21.8% on the same month last year, while the year-to-date total is 18.2% down on the corresponding 2019 period.