Commercial vehicle sales by type in selected European markets 2023

Commercial vehicle registrations in Europe have increased by an overall 15.1 percent in 2023, an increase which has been felt in most countries in the region following the drop in 2022. That year, France recorded the highest number of commercial vehicle sales. Close to 433,700 new vehicles were registered there during that period.

France is in the lead for new commercial vehicle registrations

Not only are France, the United Kingdom, and Germany among the leading European markets in terms of new passenger car registrations, but they are also the most important markets in terms of commercial vehicle sales. France was the principal market for light commercial vehicles whereas the United Kingdom was at the top of the rankings for medium and heavy-duty truck and bus sales. After record low sales of domestic light goods vehicles in April 2020 linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom rebounded and remains a key market in terms of overall sales.

European manufacturers are key players in the region

France and Germany are home to key players in the commercial vehicle manufacturing market, including Renault and Daimler Truck, as well as Volkswagen’s MAN and Scania. In the 2021 financial year, Daimler Trucks contributed close to 40 billion euros to the industry’s total revenue. That year, Mercedes-Benz amounted to 19 percent of the medium and heavy commercial vehicle market in Europe, followed by MAN and DAF. French brands, by contrast, were the most popular of the light commercial vehicle segment.