ROME (ITALPRESS) – In February, the Unrae Study and Statistics Center, based on registration data provided by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, estimates that the industrial vehicle market interrupted a four-month downward trend, registering a slight growth of 1.8 percent.
Registrations of vehicles over 3.5 tons reached 2,285, up from 2,245 in the same month of 2024. Analyzing in detail, the light vehicle segment (3.51-6 t) marks a year-on-year increase of 6.3 percent, while medium-light vehicles (6.01-15.99 t) record a 2.9 percent decline. Heavy vehicles above 16 t (+2.2 percent) are also on positive ground, with 1,911 units registered. Of these, wagons increased by 18 percent compared to February 2024 to 833, while road tractors contracted by 7.3 percent, stopping at 1,078 units.
“Although the market shows slight growth in February, it is crucial not to interpret this as a sign of structural recovery. Proof of this is the contraction of the road tractor segment, which closes the month with a 7.3 percent decrease, bringing the annual balance to -12.9 percent. This type of vehicle, which is closely linked to industrial production trends, is a key indicator of the health of the Italian manufacturing and trucking sector,” says Paolo A. Starace, president of Unrae’s industrial vehicles section.
“In this context, the measures announced last week by the European Commission with the Action Plan for the automotive sector, while introducing positive elements – such as the extension of the exemption from tolls for zero-emission industrial vehicles provided for in the Eurovignette Directive – are late and insufficient in scope for a sector that appears to be in the background of the EU executive’s priorities,” he adds.
“In our view, it would be appropriate to also provide heavy-duty transport with similar flexibility to that reserved for light-duty vehicles in terms of emission targets. In addition, larger investments to develop the necessary charging infrastructure, coupled with dedicated resources to encourage the adoption of ultra-low or zero-emission vehicles, are essential,” he concludes.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Ipa Agency-
