SALES of light commercial vehicles across Europe have increased by almost 5% for the year-to-date when compared with the same period last year. Most of the main markets experienced growth, although sales were down in Italy by -2.3%. Other sales increases were in Spain (+17.9%), France (+4.1%), Germany (+3.6%) and the UK (+0.6%). Figures produced by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show that increases in year-to-date registrations were also reported in most smaller European countries ranging from +27.1% in Denmark to +8.2% in Belgium. Falling sales were noted in the Netherlands (-18.8%), Finland (-11.2%), Greece (-4.4%), Portugal (-1.4%) and Switzerland (-3.8%).

Country Jan-Sep 05 Jan-Sep 04 Variance
Austria 22,061 19,749 11.7%
Belgium 47,509 43,905 8.2%
Denmark 40,143 31,574 27.1%
Finland 11,733 13,214 -11.2%
France 313,819 301,384 4.1%
Germany 141,606 136,746 3.6%
Greece 16,832 17,609 -4.4%
Ireland 33,849 27,194 24.5%
Italy 155,124 158,733 -2.3%
Luxembourg 2,360 2,076 13.7%
Netherlands 56,660 69,747 -18.8%
Portugal 51,664 52,416 -1.4%
Spain 287,285 243,667 17.9%
Sweden 24,445 21,543 13.5%
UK 251,068 249,573 0.6%
European Union 1,456,158 1,389,130 4.8%
Iceland 1,542 1,167 32.1%
Norway 25,581 22,777 12.3%
Switzerland 15,754 16,377 -3.8%
Western Europe 1,499,035 1,429,451 4.9%