Truck sales surge in Europe

Registrations of new trucks and light commercial vehicles surged ahead in Europe in March, with the provisional figure of 223,749 units representing growth of 20.7 per cent over March 2014 and year-to-date growth of 13.3 per cent.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association it was the highest monthly growth since December 2013, with all individual classes posting significant double-digit gains.

New registrations exploded in Spain, where growth of 67.6 per cent was recorded for the month, with hefty gains also reported in the major markets of the UK (+25.6 per cent), Germany (+13.1 per cent), France (+11.1 per cent) and Italy (+10.2 per cent).

In year-to-date terms, just four European nations registered a decline, with France down 0.5 per cent, followed by Slovenia and Croatia (both down 8.6 per cent), and Latvia (down 16.7 per cent).

Heavy vehicles with a GVM of 16 tonnes and over posted growth of 27.9 per cent in March compared to March 2014 while new registrations of buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes grew by 33.1 per cent. Registrations of medium trucks with GVMs spanning 3.5 to 16 tonnes grew by 21.2 per cent while LCVs up to 3.5 tonnes grew by 20.5 per cent.

In the heavy-duty segment the largest European market, Germany, posted growth for the month of 3.1 per cent with 6181 new registrations (up 3.9 per cent year to date), while the UK was next with 4158 units and massive growth of 77.6 per cent (up 67.6 per cent year to date), followed by France with 3337 units and growth of 22.1 per cent (down 6.6 per cent year to date).

Leading the percentage growth figures in the heavy-duty segment, however, is the Netherlands – the nation's tally of 1415 commercial vehicles equates with growth of 89.7 per cent, while its year-to-date tally of 3656 vehicles represents growth of 139.1 per cent over the previous corresponding period.

Both the European and North American markets are now rebounding after several years of post-GFC doldrums, leading local speculators and industry members to ponder when the Australian truck industry will gain some positive momentum.

Registrations of new trucks and LCVs in Australia were up 1.1 per cent at the end of March 2015, with 6615 units, but that figure is still 20 per cent down on the 8267 new commercial vehicles registered to the end of March 2008, recorded before the impact of the GFC.

Click here for the latest Truck Industry Council T-MARK sales data for the Australian truck industry, recorded to the end of April.