European Truck Sales Surge 23% in January

European heavy-duty truck sales surged 23% in January, led by sales in France and the United Kingdom, as transport firms expanded their fleets and replaced aging vehicles, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Registrations of trucks heavier than 16 tons advanced to 30,299 vehicles in January from 24,624 a year earlier, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association said in a statement, Bloomberg said.

French deliveries rose 45% to 5,249 vehicles, while U.K. sales rose 46% to 2,362 trucks. Sales in Eastern Europe fell 14% increase due mostly to a 95% plunge in Romanian sales, Bloomberg reported.

European truck makers including MAN AG, Volvo AB and Scania AB are investing to increase production as European sales rise to records as transport companies ship more freight, Bloomberg reported. The gains have helped the truck makers post record profits in recent years.