Commercial vehicle registrations: -19.8% five months into 2022; -17.7% in May

Total new commercial vehicles

In May 2022, new commercial vehicle registrations suffered another decline across the European Union, with sales down for the eleventh consecutive month. In May the figures dropped by 17.7% to reach 136,410 units sold. Trucks and buses saw growth compared to the same period last year, but the decline in van sales negatively affected the overall performance. All key EU markets recorded double-digit losses, with Spain witnessing the sharpest fall (-29.3%).

Five months into 2022, new commercial vehicle sales decreased by 19.8% in the EU, totalling 673,095 units, with the substantial drops in March and April weighing heavily on the year-to-date performance. The major markets in the region all posted negative growth: Spain (-31.2%), France (-22.3%), Germany (-17.1%) and Italy (-8.2%).

New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5t

In May, light commercial vehicle sales retreated across the EU (-22.1%), counting 108,355 units. Each of the region’s major markets recorded declines last month. Spain saw the steepest fall (-32.6%), followed by Germany (-23.8%) and France (-19.7%). Italy on the other hand saw a smaller decrease (-13.5%).

From January to May, EU registrations of light commercial vehicles totalled 538,444 units, down by 23.2% compared to the year before. Among the four largest markets in the region, Italy had the smallest decline (-8.9%), whilst Spain (-36.1%), France (-24.9%) and Germany (-19.8%) witnessed double-digit losses.

New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) of 16t and over

Last month, registrations of new heavy commercial vehicles in the EU expanded by 8.0%, reaching 21,896 units. Nearly all markets in Central Europe recorded gains, contributing to the positive performance of the region, with Latvia seeing the highest increase (+86.9%). Looking at the four major markets in Western Europe, only Spain recorded negative growth (‑4.6%). Germany posted a modest expansion (+2.4%), whereas France and Italy witnessed double-digit gains (+14.6% and +14.3% respectively).

During the five first months of 2022, new heavy trucks sales in the EU posted a slight decline (-0.4%). The expansion of sales in May was not enough to offset the negative cumulative performance. The results of the four key markets in Western Europe showed mixed results: France and Spain managed to post growth over this period (+5.3% and +1.8% respectively), whilst Germany and Italy saw modest declines (-4.0% and -1.8% respectively).

New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5t

May sales of heavy and medium commercial vehicles grew by 3.6% in the EU, counting 25,603 units. Many markets in Central Europe contributed to the positive performance. The four largest markets in Western Europe recorded mixed results. Italy (+10.7%) and France (+9.1%) posted gains. Germany and Spain on the other hand recorded losses (-4.8% and ‑4.6% respectively).

Over the first five months of the year, 123,834 trucks were registered across the EU, down by 3.1%. Germany contributed to the region’s negative performance by posting the weakest result of the four key markets (-8.3%). Italy posted a modest decline (-2.2%), whereas Spain and France witnessed slight growth (+1.5% and +0.8% respectively).

New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5t

In May, EU registrations of new buses increased by 32.8%, reaching 2,452 units, as some countries in the region posted triple- and even quadruple-digit gains. Bulgaria recorded the biggest percentage gain (+1,800.0%). Portugal and Sweden also provided a strong boost to the region’s performance (+515.0% and +188.9% respectively).

So far in 2022, EU sales of new buses and coaches expanded by 5.6%. The growth last month and in March brought the cumulative performance of the region into positive territory for the first time this year.

Trucks and buses saw growth compared to the same period last year, but the decline in van sales negatively affected the overall performance.