All major EU markets showed substantial growth in 2023. The German market, with 94,800 registrations, grew by an impressive 24.4% compared to 2022. Spain (22.3%), Italy (11.4%), and France (11.3%) also recorded noteworthy increases in registrations.
The leader in registrations was the German market, followed by France (49,600 trucks sold) and Poland (35,472 units). Spain (28,700) and Italy (28,600) secured the subsequent positions, with Spain surpassing Italy with a remarkable 22% increase in registrations.
An interesting highlight is the high position of Lithuania, which registered 10,662 new trucks, representing a 7.3% year-on-year increase and securing the 7th place in the ranking, ahead of the Czech Republic, Belgium, and Romania.
Growth in delivery vans
For lighter commercial vehicles, EU registrations increased by 14.6%, reaching 1.5 million in 2023. This reflects a continuation of the trend observed in 2022, where registrations increased by 18% compared to the previous year.
In the delivery van segment, Italy (22.7%) and Spain (22%) experienced the highest year-on-year growth, while Germany (12.1%) and France (8.9%) also reported decent growth rates.
Lithuania, on the other hand, saw a decline in sales of delivery vans in 2023, with a 6% decrease. Only three EU markets, including Denmark and Cyprus, recorded a year-on-year decline in sales.
Electric truck registrations
Statistics on the popularity of vehicles with alternative drives are intriguing. Diesel-powered trucks still dominate, accounting for 95.7% of new registrations. Diesel truck registrations increased by 15.4% year-on-year in 2023.
However, electric trucks showed significant dynamism, with 5,279 units sold, marking a 234% increase compared to the previous year. 60% of all electric trucks were sold in Germany and the Netherlands, with sales increasing by 889% in these markets.
In the EU, electric trucks constitute a small but growing share, currently making up 1.5% of the fleet compared to 0.8% in 2022.
In the case of delivery vehicles, the percentage of vehicles powered by alternative fuels is higher than for trucks. Diesel bus registrations increased by 10.4% year-on-year, but their overall share dropped to 82.6% from 85.7% in 2022.
Finally, electric delivery vans showed dynamic growth, increasing by 56.8% and accounting for 7.4% of new registrations across the EU. The Netherlands (110%), Spain (100%), and France (77%) experienced the most significant growth in the electric fleet.