Global Commercial Vehicle Sales Fall 7%

Worldwide registrations of commercial vehicles declined to 994,300 units in the first quarter of this year compared with 1.07 million in the same period of 2011, Polk estimates.

Commercial vehicle registrations posted the biggest year-over-year gains in Canada, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. in the January-March period, according to the Southfield, Mich.-based auto data provider. Demand was flat in Brazil and declined in Germany and South Korea.

Polk says registrations of light and heavy commercial vehicles in China dropped 6% and 18%, respectively, in the first three months of 2012. JAC Motors and Dongfeng were the country's leading producers of heavy commercial vehicles each with a 15.2% share of the domestic market.

Sales of light and heavy commercial vehicle in India climbed 33% and 5%, respectively, in the quarter. Tata Motors led the country's heavy-duty market with a 59% share, followed by Ashok Leyland at 21.5%.

Polk estimates global registrations based on data from the 30 countries that account for 98% of the total market for heavy-duty commercial vehicles.