SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The global commercial vehicle market declined seven percent during the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, according to a recent analysis by Polk, the recognized leader in data-driven solutions for the commercial vehicle industry.  The global decline in heavy commercial vehicles mirrors the soft economic environment in select countries, according to Polk.

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"It's increasingly important for commercial vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to evaluate the global market from a larger perspective as they expand their businesses in other regions," said Gary Meteer, account director for commercial vehicle solutions at Polk.  "We've seen increased interest from customers in global statistics and analysis on the state of the market in regions around the world."

Polk estimates global registrations based on an assessment of the top 30 countries which account for approximately 98 percent of the total global market for heavy commercial vehicles (traditionally defined as 3.5 metric tons or greater). 

China, India Lead Global Market with a Nearly 58 Percent Share
China and India have represented the two largest markets for heavy commercial vehicle registrations since 2010 and accounted for nearly 58 percent of the global market during the first quarter of 2012.  However, first quarter performance showed China registrations decreased 18.2 percent from first quarter 2011 volumes, while the commercial vehicle market in India grew 5.1 percent since the first quarter of 2011. 

A closer look at these two markets identified several trends during the quarter.  First, standard rigid trucks were the most registered heavy commercial vehicles in both markets.  Specifically in China, nearly 6.2 percent of the new heavy commercial vehicles were classified as buses or van-derived buses, while 15.4 percent in India were classified in this manner.  Also, tractors in China accounted for approximately 14 percent of new sales during the first quarter of 2012 versus just 2.6 percent in India. 

Based on Polk's analysis, JAC Motors was the leading manufacturer of heavy commercial vehicles in China during the first quarter of 2012, with 15.2 percent of the market, while Dongfeng followed closely with 15.2 percent.

In India, Tata Motors was the leading manufacturer of heavy commercial vehicles, with 59 percent share, followed by Ashok Leyland with 21.5 percent share of the market.

For light commercial vehicles (traditionally defined as 3.5 metric tons or less), new retail registrations were down 5.6 percent in China compared to the  first quarter of 2011.  In India, light commercial vehicle registrations were up 33.3 percent over the same period last year.

In markets with more than 10,000 new retail registrations during the first quarter of this year, the largest year-over-year increases were achieved in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, while South Korea and Germany both experienced declines.  The segment's performance in Brazil remained steady with 2011 first quarter levels.

Polk has been providing global market insight to the commercial vehicle industry for more than 20 years.  Its solutions for the heavy commercial market include information detailing vehicle make and model, series and vehicle type, among other attributes.  Additional available vehicle detail varies by country.

About Polk
Polk is the premier provider of automotive information and marketing solutions.  The organization collects and interprets global data, and provides extensive automotive business expertise to help customers understand their market position, identify trends, build brand loyalty, conquest new business and gain a competitive advantage. Polk helps automotive manufacturers and dealers, automotive aftermarket companies, finance and insurance companies, advertising agencies, media companies, consulting organizations, government agencies and market research firms make good business decisions. A privately held global firm, Polk is based in Southfield, Michigan with operations in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. For more information, please visit www.polk.com.

SOURCE Polk