New vehicle registration figures from the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) show mixed results for Germany’s commercial vehicle market at the start of 2026, with declines in overall commercial registrations but a growth in bus registrations.
CV Market Report
In January 2026, total commercial vehicle (CV) registrations in the German market declined by 16% compared with January 2025, with 23,449 new CVs entering the market, according to VDA.
The decline was mostpronounced among light commercial vehicles and smaller segments. Commercial vehicles up to 6 tonnes (excluding buses) declined by 21% to 17,294 units. Sub-segments such as vehicles up to 2 tonnes saw particularly sharp declines, down by 69%, reflecting weak demand in the lightest categories.
Heavy trucks, which typically represent the core of freight transport demand, held essentially flat compared with January 2025, with 4,339 registrations and a 0% change year-on-year. This suggests that, while overall commercial activity softened, investment in core long-haul truck capacity remains stable amid broader market headwinds. Similarly, vehicles over 6 to 16 tonnes declined by 19%, while the category over 6 tonnes in total was down by 4% year-on-year, VDA reports.
In contrast to the broader commercial downturn, bus registrations grew by 76% in January, with 688 units registered. This sharp increase highlights continued demand in the passenger transport segment, likely supported by public procurement cycles and fleet renewal efforts.
