Commercial Vehicle Sales in Europe Fell 12% in 2012

Registrations of new commercial vehicles across Europe dropped to 1.77 million units last year from 2.01 million units in 2011, industry group ACEA reports.

Full-year demand shrank in all the region's major markets, including Italy (-32% to 132,000 vehicles), Spain (-26% to 91,400 units), France (-10% to 433,000 units), Germany (-7% to 311,500 units) and the U.K. (-6% to 289,200 units).

Europe's sales of light trucks and vans in 2012 contracted 13% year on year to 1.44 million units as volume fell in all the region's major markets. Registrations of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles slid 9% to 295,600 units. Bus demand edged up 1% to 33,900 units.

In December, commercial vehicle registrations across the region dropped 24% year on year to 131,300 units, paced by sharp declines in the largest markets.

Last month sales plunged 21% to 34,300 vehicles in France, 25% to 23,200 units in Germany and 16% to 19,600 units in the U.K. Demand also plummeted in Italy (-20% to 10,400 units) and Spain (-34% to 6,600 units)

December's light-commercial-vehicle registrations in Europe fell 25% to 108,100 units. Sales of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles dropped 22% to 19,900 units. But bus volume rose 3% to 3,400 units.