Commercial Vehicle Sales Drop 9% in Europe

Demand for trucks and buses across Europe slumped to 153,900 vehicles last month from 168,600 units in October 2011, according to industry association ACEA.

Light-truck sales, which account for 80% of the commercial market, dropped 9% to 124,400 units last month. Sales of heavy trucks (16 tons or more) slipped 5% to 21,000 units.

October volume declined in all five of Europe's largest national markets. Sales fell 10% to 39,500 units in France, 4% to 27,500 units in Germany, 9% to 21,900 units in the U.K., 16% to 12,300 units in Italy and 20% to 8,300 units in Spain.

Those markets also dropped during the first 10 months of 2012, falling from 4% (Germany and the U.K.) to 33% (Italy) for the period. ACEA says Europe's commercial vehicle sales for the January-October period dropped almost 11% to 1.43 million units.