The association's figures showed that 8.8% more new commercial vehicles were registered in the EU last month compared to March 2009, marking the first increase in almost two years. In total, new registrations reached 186,469 units.

The segment of light-commercial vehicles posted growth, whereas heavy duty vehicles registrations were still down.

Compared with the pre-crisis situation of March 2008 new registrations decreased by 27.3%, an illustration that the sector further operates under difficult economic circumstances in the EU. 

Over the first quarter of 2010, new registrations decreased by 1.3% compared to the same period of 2009, amounting to 431,454 units.

Looking at New Light Commercial Vehicles up to 3.5t – "vans" – a total of 160,980 new vans were registered in the EU in March, or 12.4% more than last year. All major markets posted growth. Romania recorded the steepest decrease (-68.1%) while the Irish market expanded the most (+40.3%).

Over the first quarter, France recorded the most vans (101,145) or 7.8% more compared to the first quarter of 2009. Overall, 371,702 new vans were registered, or 3.8% more compared to the same period a year ago.

Within the sector for New Heavy Commercial Vehicles over 16t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – "heavy trucks" – registrations were down 15.9% in March, totaling 14,087 units. Looking at the largest markets in this segment, only Spain posted growth (+6.7%).

Three months into the year, new heavy truck registrations dropped by 30.9% in the EU. Germany remained the biggest market despite a 23.0% contraction.

Moving onto New Commercial Vehicles over 3.5t (excluding Buses & Coaches) – "trucks" – new truck registrations amounted to 22,040 units in March, or 10.1% less than in March 2009. Only the Italian (-7.5%), French (-22.6%) and Dutch (-32.9%) markets considerably contracted.

In the first quarter, 51,883 new trucks were registered in the EU, or 25.8% less than in the first quarter of 2009. Except for
Lithuania (+20.4%) and Slovakia (+7.0%), all markets suffered losses.