While the first nine months of 2013 saw commercial vehicle registrations in the EU shrink overall, September saw a spike in several EU markets and across vehicle types with double digit growth in the UK and Spain, according to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

In September, new commercial vehicle registrations grew by 6.1 percent in the EU totaling 160,038 units. Looking at the major markets, the French (-1.8 percent) and the Italian (-3.5 percent) markets shrank, in comparison with September 2012, while the German market grew by 4.2 percent and the UK (+12.5 percent) and Spanish (+25.4 percent) markets both posted a double-digit upturn, according to the ACEA. Three quarters into the year, demand for new commercial vehicles was down 4.0 percent overall in the EU with 1,230,188 new registrations. Spain (+1.8 percent) and the UK (+7.9 percent) recorded more vehicles than in the same period last year, while Germany (-6.9 percent), France (-7.0 percent) and Italy (-16.2 percent) saw their markets decline.

In September, the number of new van registrations increased by 5.6 percent, amounting to 130,789 units. Italy (-1.5%) and France (-3.1%) performed less well than in the same month last year, while Germany (+4.3%), the UK (+10.3%) and Spain (+29.1%) registered more vehicles, according to the ACEA. From January to September, results were diverse across countries. France (-6.9 percent) and Germany (-6.4 percent) performed similarly, while Italy (-16.3 percent) recorded a sharper downturn. Spain (+4.0 percent) and the UK (+9.6 percent) fared better than in the first nine months of 2012. Overall, the market of new vans shrank by 3.4 percent, totaling 1,004,479 units in the EU.

In September, the EU registered 26,058 new trucks, or 7.6 percent more than in the same month last year. Italy was the only significant market to contract, as growth ranged from +2.5 percent in Germany to +7.0 percent in France, +12.1 percent in Spain and +32.0 percent in the UK. From January to September, most major markets declined, from -8.6 percent in Germany to -9.5 percent in France, -11.7 percent in Spain and -17.3 percent in Italy. The UK stood out with a 1.5 percent expansion of its market. In total, 202,239 new trucks were registered, or 6.8 percent less than in the first nine months of 2012, according to the ACEA.