Europe’s commercial vehicle market records positive first half of 2026

Newly published figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show that Europe’s commercial vehicle market recorded a positive first half of 2026. Growth in the van and truck segments reflected a recovery from a low base, while the bus segment showed strong growth.

Electric vehicles continued to gain market share, but uptake remains below the required pace, constrained by insufficient enabling conditions, notably in the heavier vehicle segments.

New EU van sales grew by 1.9 per cent to 742,759 units. Growth across the four largest markets, however, remained uneven: Spain posted a solid increase (+7.9 per cent), whilst registrations declined in Germany (-4.6 per cent), Italy (-4.7 per cent) and France (-2.1 per cent).

New EU truck registrations also increased by 9.8 per cent, totalling 171,933 units. This growth was driven by strong demand for heavy trucks (+11.1 per cent), alongside a 2.8 per cent increase in medium-truck registrations.

Among major markets, Poland (+25.9 per cent) and Spain (+13.2 per cent) achieved the strongest gains, with Germany also contributing (+7.1 per cent). In contrast, the French market remained relatively flat compared to the first half of 2025.

New EU bus sales increased by 22.7 per cent, amounting to 22,590 units. Italy recorded the strongest growth among the largest markets (+51.6 per cent), followed by Germany and France (both +21.6 per cent). Spain was the only major market to contract (-8.5 per cent), whereas Poland posted a 78 per cent increase, becoming the EU’s fourth-largest bus market.

Vans
Diesel remained the preferred choice for new van buyers in the EU, despite registrations declining by 1.8 per cent to 587,272 units, with its market share falling from 82 per cent in the first half of 2025 to 79.1 per cent. Electric vans grew by 41.6 per cent, capturing 13.2 per cent market share, an increase from 9.5 per cent in H1 2025. Petrol models decreased by 21.2 per cent, reducing their market share to 3.8 per cent (down from 4.9 per cent). Hybrid van registrations recorded strong growth (+31.7 per cent), although they accounted for only 3.3 per cent of the EU market.

Trucks
Diesel maintained its dominance in the truck market in the first half of 2026. Diesel trucks accounted for 92.1 per cent of new EU registrations, up 9.3 per cent year-to-date. Electric trucks grew by 47.7 per cent, securing 4.8 per cent of the market (from 3.6 per cent in H1 2025). Germany (+88.5 per cent), the Netherlands (+44.5 per cent), and France (+43.7 per cent) drove this growth, together accounting for 74 per cent of all electric truck registrations in the EU.

Buses
New EU electrically-chargeable bus registrations surged by 56.8 per cent, with its market share increasing from 21.6 per cent to 27.7 per cent. Italy, now the EU’s largest bus market, led this growth with registrations more than quadrupling. Diesel bus registrations also increased by 11 per cent, holding a 58.2 per cent market share. In addition, hybrid-electric bus registrations grew by 10.7 per cent, accounting now for 6.1 per cent of the market.