Truck Sales Rise 7% in Europe

Sales of commercial trucks across Europe climbed to 165,000 units in October from 153,700 units a year earlier, trade association ACEA says.

Monthly demand for light trucks (3.5 tons or less) advanced 6% to 131,700 units. Registrations of heavier trucks expanded 12% to 30,500, and sales of medium and heavy buses jumped 23% to 2,800.

Overall volumes for October improved in France (+4% to 41,200 units), Germany (+2% to 28,200), the U.K. (+27% to 27,800) and Spain (+26% to 10,400), according to ACEA. Volume fell 13% to 10,500 units in Italy.

In the first 10 months of 2013, combined commercial vehicles sales totaled 1.45 million units compared with 1.49 million for the same period last year. Volumes were up in Spain (+4% to 80,600 units) and the U.K. (+10% to 270,100). But they fell in France (-6% to 342,700), Germany (-6% to 244,800) and Italy (-16% to 92,900).