Transport planning chiefs may back a call to help support the European commercial vehicle industry as the sector continues to struggle in the face of the recession.
According to the latest registrations data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), new vehicle sales are down by 37 per cent compared with last year.
The drop in trade and economic activity has seen demand for trucks and HGVs plummet as transport planning bosses turned their focus to cost reduction during the downturn.
With no immediate signs of improvement and production now down to half of pre-crisis levels, manufacturers expect the market to remain subdued until late 2010.
Ivan Hodac, secretary general of ACEA, called for more support for commercial vehicle producers as the industry faces "fundamental changes" to its operations.
"The commercial vehicle manufacturers make the products that their customers need and society wants," he said.
"Europe cannot afford to stand aside and let this sector be at risk."
Despite the doom and gloom, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders recently predicted that HGV sales will be better in September than in previous months.
However, the long-term outlook remains "bleak", the group added.
