Commercial Vehicle Sales Sag in Europe

Registrations of new commercial vehicles across Europe fell to 164,100 units last month compared with 173,100 units a year earlier, according to automaker group ACEA. It reports that June's 5% drop marks the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year declines.

Germany was the only major market to post higher commercial vehicles sales in June, a 9% jump to 29,200 vehicles. Volume plunged 30% to 11,500 vehicles in Italy and 29% to 8,400 units in Spain. Demand dipped 1% to 43,100 vehicles in France and was unchanged at 26,400 units in the U.K.

Commercial vehicle registrations sank 10% to 931,400 units across the region in the first six months of 2012. Volume fell in all major markets: Italy (37% to 71,500 units), Spain (26% to 49,500 units), France (7% to 233,500 units), the U.K. (5% to 145,900 units) and Germany (2% to 157,700 units).

Registrations of light commercial vehicles in the first half dropped 12% to 758,600 units. Sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks fell 5% to 155,700 units. Demand for buses rose 5% to 17,000 units.