EU commercial vehicle market expands 5.8% in Jan-April

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The EU market for commercial vehicles posted an annual growth of 5.8% during the first four months of 2019, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) reported on Thursday.

The number of new commercial vehicle registrations amounted to 871,100 in the January-April period, according to a ACEA data.

Among key markets, Germany (12.1%), the U.K. (8.3%), France (6.5%), Spain (3.8%) and Italy (3.4%) recorded an increase in demand for commercial vehicles.

Demand for vans -- light commercial vehicles -- rose by 5.9% to surpass 721,000 new registrations in the bloc during the four month period.

On the heavy commercial vehicles side, EU demand grew by 4.9% to over 111,000 new trucks during the same period.

More than 136,500 new medium/heavy commercial vehicles were also registered in the EU, marking 6.1% increase year-on-year the January-April period.

"Four months into the year, demand for new buses and coaches showed a slight decrease (-0.9%)," the ACEA added.

Last year, the number of new commercial vehicle registrations amounted to 2.5 million in the 28-member bloc.