Figures just released by Acea, the European auto industry body, show 8.8% more new commercial vehicles have been registered in the EU last March than in the same month in 2009.

This is the first registration increase in almost two years.

Vans were up 12.4% to 160,980 units while heavy trucks, over 16 tonnes, were down 15.9% to 14,087 units. For all freight vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, ie excluding buses and coaches, the total was 22,040 units, down 10.1%.

Of the most important markets, the UK recorded both the most vehicles and the highest year-on-year increase, at 28.0%.

Full story at www.acea.be

More from Quynh-Nhu Huynh on +32 (0)2 738 73 55 or qh@acea.be