PRESS EMBARGO: 8.00 AM (7.00 AM GMT), 24 January 2019

NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS
EUROPEAN UNION1 
December 2018

Commercial vehicle registrations: +3.2% in 2018; ‐4.0% in December

Total new commercial vehicles

In December 2018, commercial vehicle registrations across the EU were down 4.0% compared to the 
last month  of 2017.  Demand  contracted  across  all segments,  but  heavy  trucks  and  buses  saw  the 
highest  drops.  Both  Spain  (+6.7%)  and  France  (+1.9%)  posted  growth,  while  registrations  of  new 
commercial vehicles fell in Italy (‐12.1%), the United Kingdom (‐9.5%) and Germany (‐4.4%). 
Overall in 2018, EU demand for commercial vehicles went up by 3.2% compared to 2017, marking 
the sixth consecutive year of growth. Roughly 2.5 million commercial vehicles were registered across 
the European Union, representing the highest volume on record since 2007. Demand declined in Italy  
(‐4.1%) and the UK (‐1.9%), but the Spanish (+6.5%), French (+4.9%) and German (+4.6%) markets 
performed very well in 2018.  

                                                            
1 Malta not available 

Page 1 of 7 

 
  

New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5t2

In December, registrations of light commercial vehicles were 2.4% lower than one year ago. Among 
the major EU markets, Spain (+9.9%) posted the highest increase, followed by France (+2.9%). At the 
same time, demand for new vans slowed down in Italy (‐11.5%), the UK (‐8.8%) and Germany (‐3.2%). 
In 2018, new van registrations surpassed the two‐million mark for the first time since 2007, recording 
a  3.1%  increase  compared  to  2017.  Spain  (+7.8%),  Germany  (+5.4%)  and  France  (+4.6%)  posted 
growth, while demand for light commercial vehicles contracted both in the United Kingdom (‐1.3%) 
and Italy (‐6.0%). 

New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) of 16t and over3

December 2018  results  in  the  heavy  truck  segment  were  significantly  lower  (‐12.9%)  than  in 
December 2017. With the exception of France (+1.5%), all major markets faced declines − with Spain  
(‐24.3%), Italy (‐22.8%) and Germany (‐12.2%) posting double‐digit drops. 
2018 was a positive year for heavy truck registrations, despite the slowdown observed in December. 
Overall 311,959 new vehicles were registered across the EU during the year, or 3.4% more than in 
2017. The United Kingdom (‐5.4%) and Spain (‐4.2%) saw demand for heavy trucks decline last year, 
but France (+9.1%), Italy (+5.0%) and Germany (+3.1%) contributed positively to full‐year EU growth. 

New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5t4

In December 2018, EU demand for new trucks decreased by 11.6% compared to the same month one 
year ago. Among the five big markets, the French was the only one to show a slight increase (+1.0%). 
By contrast, Italy (‐18.1%), Spain (‐17.7%), the UK (‐11.5%) and Germany (‐9.9%) all recorded strong 
declines. 
Last year, new truck registrations across the European Union grew by 3.5% compared to 2017. Full‐
year results were diverse among the five key EU markets. France (+8.1%), Italy (+5.1%) and Germany 
(+2.9%) posted positive results in 2018, but truck demand fell in the UK (‐4.0%) and Spain (‐2.0%). 

New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5t
December results showed a strong decline (‐13.4%) in bus and coach registrations. France saw the 
highest drop (‐46.2%), followed by the  United Kingdom (‐27.5%) and Spain (‐16.7%).  By  contrast, 
demand for buses increased in Germany (+5.4%) and Italy (+5.0%) during the last month of 2018. 
Overall in 2018 41,992 buses and coaches were registered across the EU, up 1.3% compared to the 
year before. Growth was largely driven by the Central European markets (+18.6%), giving full‐year 
EU results a crucial boost. On the other hand, all major Western European markets contracted in 2018 
− with the exception of Italy, which recorded strong growth (+36.7%). 

                                                            
2 Including light buses & coaches 

3 Excluding heavy buses & coaches 

4 Excluding medium and heavy buses & coaches 

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 EMBARGO FOR ALL DATA :

8.00 AM (7.00 AM GMT), 24 January 2019

  PROVISIONAL
EU+EFTA1 NEW REGISTRATION FIGURES BY COUNTRY
NEW LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES (LCV) UP TO 3.5T2

December December % change Jan‐Dec Jan‐Dec % change

2018 2017 18/17 2018 2017 18/17
AUSTRIA 2,820 2,805 0.5% 43,641 40,174 8.6%
BELGIUM 4,613 4,486 2.8% 77,936 76,397 2.0%
BULGARIA 612 600 2.0% 6,282 5,973 5.2%
CROATIA 791 606 30.5% 8,901 8,408 5.9%
CYPRUS 101 207 ‐51.2% 1,815 2,029 ‐10.5%
CZECH REPUBLIC 1,547 1,876 ‐17.5% 20,225 19,398 4.3%
DENMARK 2,725 3,338 ‐18.4% 33,859 35,895 ‐5.7%
ESTONIA 189 282 ‐33.0% 5,012 4,755 5.4%
FINLAND 1,104 1,106 ‐0.2% 15,515 15,525 ‐0.1%
FRANCE 40,646 39,485 2.9% 457,573 437,415 4.6%
GERMANY 23,150 23,921 ‐3.2% 285,191 270,694 5.4%
GREECE 568 519 9.4% 6,905 6,627 4.2%
HUNGARY 2,780 2,339 18.9% 22,728 19,942 14.0%
IRELAND3 223 247 ‐9.7% 25,561 24,218 5.5%
ITALY4 20,550 23,233 ‐11.5% 181,590 193,178 ‐6.0%
LATVIA 176 280 ‐37.1% 2,393 2,242 6.7%
LITHUANIA 317 238 33.2% 3,577 3,202 11.7%
LUXEMBOURG 327 324 0.9% 4,853 4,754 2.1%
NETHERLANDS 3,825 3,477 10.0% 79,171 73,471 7.8%
POLAND 7,007 6,221 12.6% 68,819 60,989 12.8%
PORTUGAL  4,036 4,567 ‐11.6% 39,282 38,523 2.0%
ROMANIA 1,260 1,351 ‐6.7% 17,585 16,021 9.8%
SLOVAKIA 754 622 21.2% 9,126 7,581 20.4%
SLOVENIA 996 1,007 ‐1.1% 12,709 12,107 5.0%
SPAIN 17,833 16,226 9.9% 214,553 199,101 7.8%
SWEDEN 3,947 5,280 ‐25.2% 56,628 55,390 2.2%
UNITED KINGDOM 25,549 28,016 ‐8.8% 357,325 362,149 ‐1.3%
EUROPEAN UNION 168,446 172,659 ‐2.4% 2,058,755 1,996,158 3.1%
EU155 151,916 157,030 ‐3.3% 1,879,583 1,833,511 2.5%
EU126 16,530 15,629 5.8% 179,172 162,647 10.2%
ICELAND 95 156 ‐39.1% 1,918 2,025 ‐5.3%
NORWAY 3,061 3,193 ‐4.1% 37,204 35,838 3.8%
SWITZERLAND 2,646 2,767 ‐4.4% 32,386 31,829 1.7%
EFTA 5,802 6,116 ‐5.1% 71,508 69,692 2.6%
EU + EFTA 174,248 178,775 ‐2.5% 2,130,263 2,065,850 3.1%
WESTERN EUROPE (EU15 + EFTA) 157,718 163,146 ‐3.3% 1,951,091 1,903,203 2.5%
SOURCE: NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONS 
1 4
Malta not available ANFIA estimates
2 5
3
Including light buses and coaches Member states before the 2004 enlargement
LCV  ≤6t  6
Member states having joined the EU since 2004

For further information, please contact: Francesca Piazza ‐ Statistics Manager ‐ E‐mail: fp@acea.be
                                      
                                     
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 EMBARGO FOR ALL DATA :

8.00 AM (7.00 AM GMT), 24 January 2019

PROVISIONAL
EU+EFTA NEW REGISTRATION FIGURES BY COUNTRY
NEW HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES (HCV) OF 16T AND OVER1

December December % change Jan‐Dec Jan‐Dec % change

2018 2017 18/17 2018 2017 18/17
AUSTRIA 553 506 9.3% 7,722 7,652 0.9%
BELGIUM 411 378 8.7% 9,095 8,337 9.1%
BULGARIA ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
CROATIA 29 62 ‐53.2% 1,052 1,051 0.1%
CYPRUS 6 2 200.0% 50 65 ‐23.1%
CZECH REPUBLIC2 531 745 ‐28.7% 7,988 8,286 ‐3.6%
DENMARK 255 322 ‐20.8% 4,574 4,545 0.6%
ESTONIA 38 28 35.7% 1,005 991 1.4%
FINLAND 233 205 13.7% 2,904 2,868 1.3%
FRANCE 3,877 3,818 1.5% 48,519 44,452 9.1%
GERMANY 3,926 4,472 ‐12.2% 66,770 64,747 3.1%
GREECE 8 11 ‐27.3% 171 218 ‐21.6%
HUNGARY 314 404 ‐22.3% 5,590 5,178 8.0%
IRELAND4 9 79 ‐88.6% 1,810 1,883 ‐3.9%
ITALY3 1,756 2,274 ‐22.8% 20,594 19,614 5.0%
LATVIA 145 150 ‐3.3% 1,582 1,505 5.1%
LITHUANIA4 170 277 ‐38.6% 8,178 6,862 19.2%
LUXEMBOURG4 41 40 2.5% 885 977 ‐9.4%
NETHERLANDS 705 795 ‐11.3% 14,322 13,267 8.0%
POLAND 1,766 2,419 ‐27.0% 27,445 25,317 8.4%
PORTUGAL 214 451 ‐52.5% 4,156 4,503 ‐7.7%
ROMANIA 403 366 10.1% 6,656 5,821 14.3%
SLOVAKIA 157 218 ‐28.0% 3,846 3,749 2.6%
SLOVENIA4 184 171 7.6% 2,578 2,215 16.4%
SPAIN 1,208 1,596 ‐24.3% 19,792 20,659 ‐4.2%
SWEDEN 538 575 ‐6.4% 6,205 6,198 0.1%
UNITED KINGDOM4 3,167 3,347 ‐5.4% 38,470 40,649 ‐5.4%
EUROPEAN UNION 20,644 23,711 ‐12.9% 311,959 301,609 3.4%
EU15 16,901 18,869 ‐10.4% 245,989 240,569 2.3%
EU12 3,743 4,842 ‐22.7% 65,970 61,040 8.1%
ICELAND 15 26 ‐42.3% 255 222 14.9%
NORWAY 4 314 302 4.0% 4,919 4,470 10.0%
SWITZERLAND 2 181 207 ‐12.6% 3,442 3,723 ‐7.5%
EFTA 510 535 ‐4.7% 8,616 8,415 2.4%
EU + EFTA 21,154 24,246 ‐12.8% 320,575 310,024 3.4%
WESTERN EUROPE (EU15 + EFTA) 17,411 19,404 ‐10.3% 254,605 248,984 2.3%
SOURCE: NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONS 
1 3
Excluding heavy buses and coaches ANFIA estimates based on vehicle registration certificates issued by the Italian Ministry of Transport
2 4
HCV ≥18t  Estimates

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 EMBARGO FOR ALL DATA :

8.00 AM (7.00 AM GMT), 24 January 2019

  PROVISIONAL
EU+EFTA NEW REGISTRATION FIGURES BY COUNTRY
1
NEW MEDIUM AND HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES (MHCV) OVER 3.5T

December December % change Jan‐Dec Jan‐Dec % change

2018 2017 18/17 2018 2017 18/17
AUSTRIA 590 558 5.7% 8,204 8,186 0.2%
BELGIUM 525 452 16.2% 10,816 9,818 10.2%
BULGARIA ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
CROATIA 56 79 ‐29.1% 1,397 1,344 3.9%
CYPRUS 12 10 20.0% 121 104 16.3%
CZECH REPUBLIC 741 953 ‐22.2% 9,894 10,008 ‐1.1%
DENMARK 291 354 ‐17.8% 4,998 5,029 ‐0.6%
ESTONIA 45 33 36.4% 1,078 1,037 4.0%
FINLAND 319 271 17.7% 3,897 3,473 12.2%
FRANCE 4,435 4,389 1.0% 55,463 51,308 8.1%
GERMANY 6,099 6,768 ‐9.9% 94,404 91,755 2.9%
GREECE 18 38 ‐52.6% 351 445 ‐21.1%
HUNGARY 406 518 ‐21.6% 6,258 5,854 6.9%
IRELAND 12 112 ‐89.3% 2,144 2,264 ‐5.3%
ITALY2 2,263 2,764 ‐18.1% 25,582 24,347 5.1%
LATVIA 146 160 ‐8.8% 1,645 1,561 5.4%
LITHUANIA3 173 297 ‐41.8% 8,290 6,996 18.5%
LUXEMBOURG 43 53 ‐18.9% 1,032 1,138 ‐9.3%
NETHERLANDS 805 900 ‐10.6% 15,971 14,635 9.1%
POLAND 2,016 2,729 ‐26.1% 29,870 27,659 8.0%
PORTUGAL  422 557 ‐24.2% 5,133 5,372 ‐4.4%
ROMANIA 422 383 10.2% 6,903 6,108 13.0%
SLOVAKIA 197 251 ‐21.5% 4,308 4,190 2.8%
SLOVENIA3 198 181 9.4% 2,761 2,367 16.6%
SPAIN 1,517 1,843 ‐17.7% 24,178 24,675 ‐2.0%
SWEDEN 607 634 ‐4.3% 6,802 6,752 0.7%
UNITED KINGDOM3 3,970 4,485 ‐11.5% 52,468 54,648 ‐4.0%
EUROPEAN UNION 26,328 29,772 ‐11.6% 383,968 371,073 3.5%
EU15 21,916 24,178 ‐9.4% 311,443 303,845 2.5%
EU12 4,412 5,594 ‐21.1% 72,525 67,228 7.9%
ICELAND 27 32 ‐15.6% 422 391 7.9%
NORWAY 382 374 2.1% 7,068 6,244 13.2%
SWITZERLAND 252 282 ‐10.6% 4,389 4,586 ‐4.3%
EFTA 661 688 ‐3.9% 11,879 11,221 5.9%
EU + EFTA 26,989 30,460 ‐11.4% 395,847 382,294 3.5%
WESTERN EUROPE (EU15 + EFTA) 22,577 24,866 ‐9.2% 323,322 315,066 2.6%
SOURCE: NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONS 
1
Excluding buses and coaches over 3.5t
2
ANFIA estimates based on vehicle registration certificates issued by the Italian Ministry of Transport
3
Estimates

Page 5 of 7
 EMBARGO FOR ALL DATA :

8.00 AM (7.00 AM GMT), 24 January 2019

  PROVISIONAL
EU+EFTA NEW REGISTRATION FIGURES BY COUNTRY
NEW MEDIUM AND HEAVY BUSES & COACHES (MHBC) OVER 3.5T

December December % change Jan‐Dec Jan‐Dec % change

2018 2017 18/17 2018 2017 18/17
AUSTRIA 143 119 20.2% 1,125 1,244 ‐9.6%
BELGIUM 63 32 96.9% 1,060 869 22.0%
BULGARIA ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
CROATIA 4 10 ‐60.0% 224 204 9.8%
CYPRUS ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
CZECH REPUBLIC 264 175 50.9% 1,203 804 49.6%
DENMARK 64 50 28.0% 578 856 ‐32.5%
ESTONIA 4 1 300.0% 137 212 ‐35.4%
FINLAND 25 45 ‐44.4% 475 514 ‐7.6%
FRANCE 437 813 ‐46.2% 6,230 6,329 ‐1.6%
GERMANY 862 818 5.4% 6,687 6,697 ‐0.1%
GREECE 47 19 147.4% 263 190 38.4%
HUNGARY 36 97 ‐62.9% 659 642 2.6%
IRELAND 40 14 185.7% 446 339 31.6%
ITALY1 293 279 5.0% 4,584 3,353 36.7%
LATVIA 15 80 ‐81.3% 126 245 ‐48.6%
LITHUANIA2 33 34 ‐2.9% 696 392 77.6%
LUXEMBOURG 6 6 0.0% 217 239 ‐9.2%
NETHERLANDS 142 269 ‐47.2% 562 887 ‐36.6%
POLAND 186 354 ‐47.5% 2,687 2,288 17.4%
PORTUGAL  33 28 17.9% 510 361 41.3%
ROMANIA 229 108 112.0% 1,324 1,031 28.4%
SLOVAKIA 21 27 ‐22.2% 351 403 ‐12.9%
SLOVENIA2 24 16 50.0% 187 183 2.2%
SPAIN 245 294 ‐16.7% 3,327 3,527 ‐5.7%
SWEDEN 135 89 51.7% 931 1,301 ‐28.4%
UNITED KINGDOM2 412 568 ‐27.5% 7,403 8,342 ‐11.3%
EUROPEAN UNION 3,763 4,345 ‐13.4% 41,992 41,452 1.3%
EU15 2,947 3,443 ‐14.4% 34,398 35,048 ‐1.9%
EU12 816 902 ‐9.5% 7,594 6,404 18.6%
ICELAND 3 3 0.0% 109 156 ‐30.1%
NORWAY 38 93 ‐59.1% 1,026 1,190 ‐13.8%
SWITZERLAND 87 97 ‐10.3% 681 712 ‐4.4%
EFTA 128 193 ‐33.7% 1,816 2,058 ‐11.8%
EU + EFTA 3,891 4,538 ‐14.3% 43,808 43,510 0.7%
WESTERN EUROPE (EU15 + EFTA) 3,075 3,636 ‐15.4% 36,214 37,106 ‐2.4%
SOURCE: NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONS 
1
ANFIA estimates based on vehicle registration certificates issued by the Italian Ministry of Transport
2
Estimates

Page 6 of 7
  EMBARGO FOR ALL DATA :

8.00 AM (7.00 AM GMT), 24 January 2019

  PROVISIONAL
EU+EFTA NEW REGISTRATION FIGURES BY COUNTRY
TOTAL NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

December December % change Jan‐Dec Jan‐Dec % change

2018 2017 18/17 2018 2017 18/17
AUSTRIA 3,553 3,482 2.0% 52,970 49,604 6.8%
BELGIUM 5,201 4,970 4.6% 89,812 87,084 3.1%
BULGARIA1 612 600 2.0% 6,282 5,973 5.2%
CROATIA 851 695 22.4% 10,522 9,956 5.7%
CYPRUS2 113 217 ‐47.9% 1,936 2,133 ‐9.2%
CZECH REPUBLIC 2,552 3,004 ‐15.0% 31,322 30,210 3.7%
DENMARK 3,080 3,742 ‐17.7% 39,435 41,780 ‐5.6%
ESTONIA 238 316 ‐24.7% 6,227 6,004 3.7%
FINLAND 1,448 1,422 1.8% 19,887 19,512 1.9%
FRANCE 45,518 44,687 1.9% 519,266 495,052 4.9%
GERMANY 30,111 31,507 ‐4.4% 386,282 369,146 4.6%
GREECE 633 576 9.9% 7,519 7,262 3.5%
HUNGARY 3,222 2,954 9.1% 29,645 26,438 12.1%
IRELAND 275 373 ‐26.3% 28,151 26,821 5.0%
ITALY 23,106 26,276 ‐12.1% 211,756 220,878 ‐4.1%
LATVIA 337 520 ‐35.2% 4,164 4,048 2.9%
LITHUANIA 523 569 ‐8.1% 12,563 10,590 18.6%
LUXEMBOURG 376 383 ‐1.8% 6,102 6,131 ‐0.5%
NETHERLANDS 4,772 4,646 2.7% 95,704 88,993 7.5%
POLAND 9,209 9,304 ‐1.0% 101,376 90,936 11.5%
PORTUGAL  4,491 5,152 ‐12.8% 44,925 44,256 1.5%
ROMANIA 1,911 1,842 3.7% 25,812 23,160 11.5%
SLOVAKIA 972 900 8.0% 13,785 12,174 13.2%
SLOVENIA 1,218 1,204 1.2% 15,657 14,657 6.8%
SPAIN 19,595 18,363 6.7% 242,058 227,303 6.5%
SWEDEN 4,689 6,003 ‐21.9% 64,361 63,443 1.4%
UNITED KINGDOM 29,931 33,069 ‐9.5% 417,196 425,139 ‐1.9%
EUROPEAN UNION 198,537 206,776 ‐4.0% 2,484,715 2,408,683 3.2%
EU15 176,779 184,651 ‐4.3% 2,225,424 2,172,404 2.4%
EU12 21,758 22,125 ‐1.7% 259,291 236,279 9.7%
ICELAND 125 191 ‐34.6% 2,449 2,572 ‐4.8%
NORWAY 3,481 3,660 ‐4.9% 45,298 43,272 4.7%
SWITZERLAND 2,985 3,146 ‐5.1% 37,456 37,127 0.9%
EFTA 6,591 6,997 ‐5.8% 85,203 82,971 2.7%
EU + EFTA 205,128 213,773 ‐4.0% 2,569,918 2,491,654 3.1%
WESTERN EUROPE (EU15 + EFTA) 183,370 191,648 ‐4.3% 2,310,627 2,255,375 2.4%
SOURCE: NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONS 
1
Data for MHCV and MHBC not available
2
Data for MHBC not available

Page 7 of 7