EU commercial vehicle market sees mixed performance as truck and bus registrations rise

New commercial vehicle registrations across the European Union delivered mixed results in the first nine months of 2026, with growth in truck and bus sales offset by a stagnant van market, according to the latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

Against a backdrop of rising energy prices, truck registrations increased by 7.5% and bus registrations grew by 15.2%, while van registrations remained flat compared with the same period in 2025.

Electrically-chargeable commercial vehicles continued to gain market share across all three segments, although ACEA warned that uptake remains below the pace required for the transition to zero-emission transport.

Van registrations remain flat as truck market recovers

New EU van registrations totalled 1,073,427 units in the first three quarters of 2026, broadly unchanged from the previous year.

Performance varied across the largest European markets. Spain recorded growth of 6.9%, while registrations declined in France (-5.6%), Italy (-5.1%) and Germany (-4.1%).

The EU truck market performed more strongly, with registrations increasing by 7.5% to 245,079 units, reflecting a recovery from a relatively low base.

Heavy truck registrations grew by 8.5%, while medium truck registrations increased by 2.5%.

Poland recorded the strongest growth among the major markets, up 20.5%, followed by Spain (+13.2%) and Germany (+2.5%). France reported a 1.6% decline.

The bus market also recorded significant growth, with registrations rising by 15.2% to 32,695 units.

Italy led growth among the largest markets, with registrations increasing by 34.4%, followed by France (+10.5%) and Germany (+10.1%).

Poland recorded a particularly strong increase of 68.6%, becoming the EU’s fifth-largest bus market.

Electric commercial vehicles gain ground

Electrically-chargeable vehicles continued to increase their share of the EU commercial vehicle market, although diesel remained the dominant power source, particularly for vans and trucks.

Electrically-chargeable van registrations increased by 38.2% in the first nine months of 2026, raising their market share from 10.2% to 14.1%.

However, diesel still accounted for 78.1% of new van registrations, despite volumes falling by 4.3% to 838,830 units.

Hybrid van registrations increased by 35.6%, although their market share remained relatively small at 3.4%.

In the truck market, electrically-chargeable registrations grew by 49.8%, taking their market share to 5.3%.

Germany (+77.2%), France (+60.2%) and the Netherlands (+57.5%) were the main drivers of growth, together accounting for 74% of electrically-chargeable truck registrations across the EU.

Despite this increase, diesel trucks continued to dominate, representing 91.7% of new registrations.

The bus market recorded the highest electric vehicle penetration of the three segments, with electrically-chargeable bus registrations increasing by 37.6%.

Their market share rose from 22.1% to 26.4%, supported by strong growth in Italy, where registrations more than doubled.

Diesel buses retained a 58.4% market share, while hybrid-electric bus registrations increased by 24%, accounting for 6.9% of the market.

The latest ACEA figures highlight the differing pace of electrification across Europe’s commercial vehicle sectors, with electric buses making greater progress than vans and trucks.

While electrically-chargeable registrations are growing strongly, diesel continues to account for the overwhelming majority of truck purchases and more than three-quarters of new van registrations.