SALES of new vans across Europe increased by more than 4% year-to-date, new figures have shown.

Produced by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, figures show total sales of light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in Western Europe reached 1,367,923 units, compared with 1,308,696 in the same period the previous year, an increase of 4.5%. With the exception of Belgium (-5.5%), Portugal (-5.9%) and the Netherlands (-12.4%), all other markets posted increases in van sales.

Country		Jan-Aug 06		Jan-Aug 05		Variance
Austria		20,470		19,611		4.4%
Belgium		41,224		43,637		-5.5%
Denmark		39,984		35,146		13.8%
Finland		10,546		9,747		8.2%
France		291,134		280,154		3.9%
Germany		125,692		110,858		13.4%
Greece		16,174		15,826		2.2%
Ireland		34,290		31,491		8.9%
Italy*		149,011		137,300		8.5%
Luxembourg		2,190		2,107		3.9%
Netherlands		46,692		53,272		-12.4%
Portugal		41,391		44,000		-5.9%
Spain		273,951		259,519		5.6%
Sweden		24,970		21,288		17.3%
UK		207,163		205,917		0.6%
EU15		1,324,882		1,269,873		4.3%
Iceland		1,704		1,383		23.2%
Norway		25,421		22,470		13.1%
Switzerland		15,916		14,970		6.3%
EFTA		43,041		38,823		10.9%
Western Europe		1,367,923		1,308,696		4.5%

* Delivery figures only