Institutional Sign In

Go

Sales of New Commercial Vehicles in Europe rose 1.78% in June 2021

Jiří Staník
July 28, 2021

Sales of new commercial vehicles reached 208 thousand in June 2021 in the enlarged Europe (EU plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), according to ACEA. This is 1.78%, or 3.62 thousand more than in the previous year.

Historically, between January 1997 and June 2021, sales of commercial vehicles in Europe reached a high of 296 thousand in March 2017 and a low of 71.0 thousand in April 2020.

So far this year, some 1,233 thousand vehicles were sold in Europe, up 35.7% yoy.

Sales of new light commercial vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes) reached 180 thousand in June, up 1.35% yoy. Historically, between January 1997 and June 2021, sales reached a high of 240 thousand in March 2019 and a low of 53.6 thousand in April 2020. The average annual growth in that period amounted to 1.53%.

Total of 24.6 thousand new medium commercial vehicles (weighting from 3.5-16 tonnes) were registered in June, up 6.30% yoy. That is compared to average annual growth of 0.530% seen in 2011 - 2021.

Sales of heavy vehicles (exceeding 16 tonnes) amounted to 19.0 thousand, up 4.90% yoy. That's compared to maximum of 47.4 thousand recorded in April 2006 and minimum of 8.12 thousand seen in August 2009. Sales of heavy vehicles have been growing by 1.04% a year on average since 1997.

Some 2.79 thousand new buses have been delivered in June in Europe, down 7.78% when compared to last year. Historically, between 1997 and 2021, sales reached a high of 4.74 thousand in June 2019 and a low of 1.23 thousand in April 2020. The average annual growth in that period amounted to 0.963%.

Most vehicles (51.9 thousand) were sold in France (down 9.43% yoy), followed by the UK (38.2 thousand, up 18.0%), Germany with 34.7 thousand cars (up 28.5%), 18.7 thousand new vehicles were registered in Italy (up 4.92%) and 17.2 thousand thousand in Spain (down 3.09%). The five largest countries accounted for 94.1% of total new vehicles registered in June 2021.

In relative terms, sales in Austria (+137%) and Latvia (+120%) showed the best performance compared to a year ago, whereas registration in Cyprus and Luxembourg performed the worst (-15.0% and -18.3% yoy), in June 2021, according to ACEA.

Between 1997 and 2021, sales of commercial vehicles in Europe have increased from 155 thousand to 208 thousand, or 1.30%. a year on average.

In the first six months of the year, some 1,233 thousand commercial vehicles were sold in Europe, up 35.7% yoy. While most vehicles were sold in France (269 thousand) followed by the UK (215 thousand) and Germany (185 thousand), sales in Austria (up 74.8%) and Bulgaria (up 74.5%) performed the best compared to a year ago, according to ACEA. On the other hand, registrations in Cyprus (up 5.94%), Finland (up 14.7%) and Norway (up 15.4%) were relatively the weakest, since the beginning of the year:

The table below shows details of the sales of new commercial vehicles for each of the European country in the last month and since the beginning of the year.

Sales of New Commercial Vehicles in Europe (thousands of vehicles)

Country June 2021 June 2020 YOY Change % 1-6/2021 1-6/2020 YOY Change %
Austria 9.87 4.17 137 35.0 20.0 74.8
Belgium 7.37 8.54 -13.7 46.8 38.4 22.0
Bulgaria 1.13 0.540 109 5.11 2.93 74.5
Croatia 0.838 0.612 36.9 5.03 3.66 37.3
Cyprus 0.210 0.247 -15.0 1.02 0.960 5.94
Czech Republic 2.63 2.13 23.0 14.4 11.3 27.5
Denmark 3.64 2.61 39.8 19.8 16.1 22.6
Estonia 0.516 0.244 111 3.02 2.02 49.6
Finland 1.72 1.12 53.2 9.35 8.15 14.7
France 51.9 57.3 -9.43 269 197 36.4
Germany 34.7 27.0 28.5 185 152 21.7
Greece 0.984 0.805 22.2 5.64 3.64 54.6
Hungary 2.64 2.05 28.8 14.8 11.8 25.0
Iceland 0.175 0.094 86.2 0.775 0.647 19.8
Ireland 1.09 0.669 62.9 18.5 12.0 54.9
Italy 18.7 17.8 4.92 112 72.4 54.1
Latvia 0.415 0.189 120 2.12 1.27 67.2
Lithuania 1.16 0.538 116 6.39 3.91 63.3
Luxembourg 0.477 0.584 -18.3 3.30 2.60 26.8
Netherlands 7.17 4.82 48.9 46.4 37.0 25.5
Norway 4.43 3.58 23.8 22.0 19.1 15.4
Poland 10.1 6.81 48.6 55.8 33.5 66.7
Portugal 3.30 2.60 26.7 17.9 13.2 35.9
Romania 2.14 1.72 24.7 11.2 8.56 31.4
Slovakia 1.09 0.725 50.2 5.69 3.95 43.9
Slovenia 0.913 0.898 1.67 6.33 4.77 32.8
Spain 17.2 17.7 -3.09 99.7 72.0 38.4
Sweden 3.75 2.89 29.7 25.1 15.9 57.9
Switzerland 3.05 2.67 13.9 17.9 15.4 16.3
United Kingdom 38.2 32.3 18.0 215 124 72.9
EU + EFTA 208 204 1.78 1,233 909 35.7
Source: ACEA, Helgi Library

Sales of New Light Commercial Vehicles in Europe (thousands of vehicles)

Country June 2021 June 2020 YOY Change % 1-6/2021 1-6/2020 YOY Change %
Austria 9.05 3.64 149 30.8 16.8 83.0
Belgium 6.58 7.77 -15.3 41.9 34.1 22.8
Bulgaria 0.741 0.361 105 3.42 2.23 53.5
Croatia 0.683 0.548 24.6 4.27 3.20 33.3
Cyprus 0.203 0.143 42.0 0.959 0.791 21.2
Czech Republic 1.77 1.49 19.2 9.33 7.40 26.0
Denmark 3.12 2.33 33.6 17.2 14.0 22.6
Estonia 0.413 0.214 93.0 2.40 1.66 44.6
Finland 1.30 0.871 49.1 7.30 6.27 16.5
France 46.6 51.8 -10.0 242 175 38.7
Germany 27.0 21.0 28.2 141 114 23.0
Greece 0.865 0.740 16.9 5.16 3.16 62.9
Hungary 2.07 1.81 14.8 12.2 10.1 20.6
Iceland 0.141 0.081 74.1 0.641 0.535 19.8
Ireland 0.988 0.568 73.9 17.0 10.7 59.1
Italy 16.2 16.0 1.25 96.1 61.5 56.3
Latvia 0.188 0.152 23.7 1.22 0.968 26.4
Lithuania 0.310 0.281 10.3 1.97 1.56 25.8
Luxembourg 0.396 0.459 -13.7 2.65 2.01 32.0
Netherlands 6.04 4.12 46.9 39.5 30.8 28.2
Norway 3.49 2.56 36.4 18.3 15.1 21.6
Poland 7.43 5.13 44.9 39.0 24.6 58.5
Portugal 2.80 2.35 19.1 15.3 11.6 31.7
Romania 1.55 1.27 22.0 7.80 6.38 22.2
Slovakia 0.783 0.516 51.7 3.99 2.89 37.8
Slovenia 0.721 0.666 8.26 5.26 3.74 40.7
Spain 15.5 16.3 -4.95 88.1 63.0 39.8
Sweden 3.14 2.24 40.1 21.5 12.5 72.1
Switzerland 2.66 2.33 14.1 15.7 13.0 21.2
United Kingdom 34.4 30.0 14.4 192 109 75.9
EU + EFTA 180 178 1.35 1,051 759 38.6
Source: ACEA, Helgi Library
 

Sales of New Heavy Commercial Vehicles in Europe (thousands of vehicles)

Country June 2021 June 2020 YOY Change % 1-6/2021 1-6/2020 YOY Change %
Austria 0.738 0.443 66.6 3.70 2.78 32.9
Belgium 0.584 0.536 8.96 3.61 3.14 15.0
Bulgaria 0.344 0.161 114 1.56 0.605 158
Croatia 0.087 0.054 61.1 0.564 0.335 68.4
Cyprus 0.001 0.004 -75.0 0.026 0.026 < 0.001
Czech Republic 0.666 0.404 64.9 3.76 2.49 50.9
Denmark 0.382 0.219 74.4 2.10 1.77 18.6
Estonia 0.062 0.028 121 0.428 0.253 69.2
Finland 0.240 0.148 62.2 1.30 1.22 6.54
France 4.03 4.12 -2.09 20.7 17.3 19.2
Germany 4.96 3.79 30.8 29.5 23.9 23.3
Greece 0.044 0.031 41.9 0.175 0.216 -19.0
Hungary 0.406 0.202 101 2.14 1.23 73.7
Iceland 0.015 0.010 50.0 0.062 0.057 8.77
Ireland 0.057 0.052 9.62 1.10 0.927 19.1
Italy 1.80 1.23 46.6 11.4 7.53 51.8
Latvia 0.122 0.028 336 0.658 0.239 175
Lithuania 0.837 0.253 231 4.25 2.15 97.8
Luxembourg 0.048 0.092 -47.8 0.503 0.349 44.1
Netherlands 0.951 0.587 62.0 6.01 5.17 16.2
Norway 0.402 0.356 12.9 2.29 2.29 -0.131
Poland 2.32 1.38 67.8 14.9 7.21 106
Portugal 0.412 0.183 125 1.98 1.07 85.1
Romania 0.511 0.363 40.8 2.95 1.77 66.8
Slovakia 0.249 0.140 77.9 1.44 0.811 77.9
Slovenia 0.177 0.207 -14.5 0.948 0.925 2.49
Spain 1.29 1.01 26.8 9.32 6.52 42.9
Sweden 0.504 0.368 37.0 2.89 2.55 13.7
Switzerland 0.289 0.242 19.4 1.61 1.56 3.34
United Kingdom 2.28 1.49 53.1 15.6 10.1 55.0
EU + EFTA 19.0 18.1 4.90 135 107 27.2
Source: ACEA, Helgi Library

Sales of New Buses and Coaches in Europe (thousands of vehicles)

Country June 2021 June 2020 YOY Change % 1-6/2021 1-6/2020 YOY Change %
Austria 0.082 0.069 18.8 0.455 0.350 30.0
Belgium 0.078 0.107 -27.1 0.531 0.414 28.3
Bulgaria 0.031 0.011 182 0.064 0.056 14.3
Croatia 0.032     0.081 0.026 212
Cyprus 0.004 0.096 -95.8 0.013 0.106 -87.7
Czech Republic 0.065 0.122 -46.7 0.603 0.686 -12.1
Denmark 0.105 0.014 650 0.287 0.144 99.3
Estonia 0.040     0.169 0.076 122
Finland 0.079 0.013 508 0.151 0.114 32.5
France 0.517 0.602 -14.1 2.43 2.32 4.69
Germany 0.564 0.455 24.0 2.63 2.63 -0.038
Greece 0.061 0.019 221 0.201 0.144 39.6
Hungary 0.119 0.025 376 0.251 0.307 -18.2
Iceland 0.004     0.011 0.007 57.1
Ireland 0.016 0.035 -54.3 0.218 0.163 33.7
Italy 0.207 0.170 21.8 1.68 1.60 5.07
Latvia 0.099 0.006 1,550 0.180 0.034 429
Lithuania 0.012 0.001 1,100 0.114 0.127 -10.2
Luxembourg 0.017 0.013 30.8 0.095 0.129 -26.4
Netherlands 0.039 0.019 105 0.177 0.281 -37.0
Norway 0.245 0.383 -36.0 0.427 0.729 -41.4
Poland 0.152 0.139 9.35 0.668 0.692 -3.47
Portugal 0.032 0.028 14.3 0.295 0.252 17.1
Romania 0.045 0.062 -27.4 0.376 0.294 27.9
Slovakia 0.038 0.033 15.2 0.087 0.123 -29.3
Slovenia 0.004 0.007 -42.9 0.046 0.032 43.8
Spain 0.163 0.138 18.1 0.752 0.869 -13.5
Sweden 0.042 0.236 -82.2 0.394 0.650 -39.4
Switzerland 0.041 0.042 -2.38 0.223 0.200 11.5
United Kingdom 0.493 0.175 182 1.84 1.28 43.8
EU + EFTA 2.79 3.02 -7.78 14.4 14.8 -3.00
Source: ACEA, Helgi Library

Overview of the Automotive Market

Based on a comparison of 138 countries, USA ranked the highest with 11,051 thousand commercial vehicles sold in 2020 followed by the China and Canada. Total sales of commercial vehicles reached 24,372 thousand in 2020 in the world, according to OICA. This is 8.69% less than in the previous year and 27.3% more than 10 years ago. Historically, total sales of commercial vehicles reached a high of 26,971 thousand in 2018 and a low of 15,912 thousand in 2009, in between 2005-2020. The average annual growth stands at 1.16% since 2005.

The top ranked country, USA, accounted for 45.3% of all commercial vehicles sold in the world. The top 3 countries held a 71.4% share while the ten largest countries some 71.4% in 2020.

USA was the largest commercial vehicle producer in 2020 with 6,896 thousand followed by Thailand and Spain. Total production of commercial vehicles reached 21,787 thousand in 2020 in the world, according to OICA. USA accounted for 31.6% of the world's production, while the top 3 countries held a 37.9% share and the ten largest countries some some 44.4% in 2020:

France ranked the highest in sales of light commercial vehicles with 401 thousand followed by UK and Germany in 2020.

In terms of medium commercial vehicles, Germany ranked the highest with 24.5 thousand vehicles sold followed by the UK and France in 2020.

Most heavy commercial vehicles (50.3 thousand) were sold in Germany, followed by France (36.7 thousand) and the Germany (27.8 thousand). On the other hand, China, the Japan and USA produced 82.9% of total heavy commercial vehicles in 2020:

In terms of new buses and coaches, Germany was the largest investor with 6.46 thousand vehicles bought in 2020, followed by France (6.05 thousand) and the UK (4.62 thousand). On the other hand, China was the largest producer with 103 thousand vehicles:

Overview of the Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers

Based on a comparison of 27 firms among Commercial Vehicle Producers, Volvo Group generated the highest sales in 2019 followed by Tata Motors and Paccar. At the same time, Volvo Group had the highest market value followed by Paccar and Isuzu Motors:

Volvo Group generated the highest earnings before interest costs, taxes and depreciation (so called EBITDA) in 2019 followed by Paccar and Scania Group. At the same time, Scania Group generated the highest EBITDA Margin followed by Volvo Group and Ashok Leyland.

Jiří Staník
Jiří Staník
CEO & Founder
He spent nearly two decades analysing companies in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, primarily in the area of financial services. Jiri built and headed Equity Research at Wood & Company, a Central European brokerage firm, and got several awards (such as The Best Equity Research or The Best Analyst by Euromoney).