UK demand for new HGVs plummeted in October, according to the latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (EAMA).
The report, which looks at registrations of new commercial vehicles across Europe in 2016, reveals that UK demand for new medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5-tonnes fell 17.4% to 4,472 in October this year compared to the same month last year.
Demand for HGVs 16-tonnes and above plunged by 16.3% in the same period to 3,579 registrations.
This is the first fall in UK registrations of vehicles 3.5-tonnes to the top of the weight range this year.
Despite this monthly fall, the UK market remained up on 2015 in the first ten months of the year with MHCV sales 3% higher at 40,256 and HGVs (16-tonne and above) up 4% at 30,646.
Although registration growth across both of the above weight catergories has been higher in France, Spain, Germany and Italy during the first ten months of 2016.
European malaise
The EAMA said the decline in UK demand for HGVs in October was however in line with a trend across Europe. Registrations of new MHCVs and HGVs in the EU were down 9% and 7.7% respectively in October 2016 compared to the same period last year, except in Italy.
Italy increased registrations of new HGVs (16-tonne and above) by 35.3% to 1,548, but registrations of new HGVs fell 17.4% in Germany (4,955), 8.7% in Spain (2,835) and 4.3% in France (3,724) in the same period.
Total European registrations of HGVs (16-tonne and above) for the first ten months of the year are 12.4% ahead year-on-year at 244,303.
An EAMA spokeswoman told Commercialmotor.com that the October decline indicated “a levelling off” in demand after a period of strong growth as businesses across the EU replaced older stock following the recession.
“After so many months of double-digit growth, as ageing stock was replaced after the economic crisis, this is a natural adjustment in the market and overall the market is still growing this year,” she added.
In its latest quarterly figures, the SMMT said fleet renewal patterns had now returned to normal following the distortions caused by Euro-6 and Whole Vehicle Type Approval, and said the industry should now expect a steadier rate of further growth.
