European commercial vehicle market posts growth in first half of 2026

The European commercial vehicle market recorded a rise in registrations during the first half of 2026. New van registrations increased 1.9% to 742,759 units, trucks grew 9.8% to 171,933 units and buses jumped 22.7% to 22,590 units. Growth was uneven: Spain posted a 7.9% increase while Germany, Italy and France saw declines. Poland and Spain led gains in the truck segment, and Poland posted a 78% surge in bus registrations, becoming the EU’s fourth‑largest bus market. Diesel remained the dominant fuel, but electric vans gained 41.6% year‑on‑year, reaching a 13.2% market share, and electric trucks rose 47.7% to hold 4.8% of registrations.

Work Truck Solutions’ Q2 2026 commercial‑vehicle analysis showed a tightening supply‑demand balance. The average price of new work trucks was stable at $59,635, with dealer inventory flat and sales per dealer up 8.7% quarter‑on‑quarter, cutting days‑to‑turn to 172 days. In the used market, average prices fell 3.1% quarter‑on‑quarter to $37,494, inventory rose, and sales grew 10%, reducing days‑to‑turn to 56 days. Median mileage of used trucks surged 30.8% quarter‑on‑quarter to 77,507 miles, indicating longer use before resale. Battery‑electric work trucks are beginning to appear in the market.