Europe’s Truck Market Shrank 4% in December

Sales of commercial trucks and vans across Europe shrank 4% to 212,900 units in December, according to trade group ACEA. It was the market’s first decline in year-on-year volume since a 7% drop last April.

December registrations were flat in Germany at 31,500 trucks. But sales shrank in France (-2% to 44,700 units), the U.K. (-2% to 32,500) Italy (-17% to 26,500) and Spain (-3% to 18,400).

Full-year deliveries in the region rose to 2.49 million vehicles last year from 2.41 million units in 2016. Among Europe’s five largest markets, demand rose in France (+7% to 495,100 trucks), Germany (+3% to 369,100) and Spain (+14% to 227,300).

But annual sales receded for the U.K. (-4% to 420,400 units) and Italy (-2% to 221,300) in 2017.​​​​​