China, world leader. - Olivier Wyman consultants have indicated in a study that global sales of heavy goods vehicles are expected to increase by 35% between now and 2018. Around 3.6 million new vehicles are expected to be sold. China has become, by far, the world leader in lorries, ahead of the US. Sales have tripled in China since 2005 and last year the country absorbed more than 40% of international orders for vehicles, particularly in the heavy goods vehicles segment (vehicles weighing more than 16 tonnes), which accounted for 75% of all purchases. In the next few years, China will maintain its position as world leader but will no longer be the driving force. Sales will increase but by no more than a 2.7% annual average up until 2018, as opposed to an estimated 5.1% for the other BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia and India) and 6.1% for developed countries (North America, European Union, Japan, Korea). According to experts, growth will mainly be underpinned in the future by Western countries and the catching-up affect, following the repercussions of the 2009 crisis. Nonetheless, the market remains both unstable and fragile and even just a small crisis could upset all forecasts. (IL/transl.fl)