Truck Sales in Europe Slip 3%

Registrations of new commercial vehicles across Europe declined to 172,700 units last month from 177,500 units in December 2014, according to trade group ACEA.

Sales of light trucks (less than 3.5 tons) jumped 13% to 146,100 units in December. But demand plunged for medium and heavy trucks (-49% to 22,700) and large buses and coaches (-15% to 3,800).

Among Europe's largest truck markets, December volume rose in France (+2% to 40,600) and Spain (+34% to 13,500). Deliveries fell in the U.K. (-9% to 29,600), Germany (-5% to 28,000) and Italy (-3% to 12,400).

Europe's full-year truck market expanded 7% to 1.92 million units in 2014. Results were led by light commercial vehicles, whose sales rose 11% to 1.59 million units. ACEA says sales of medium and heavy trucks dropped 8% to 290,100 units last year.

By major national markets, 2014 truck sales slipped 1,900 units to 415,000 in France. They advanced in the U.K. (+11% to 366,600), Germany (+5% to 319,900), Italy (+14% to 132,300) and Spain (+32% to 131,900).