2020 truck sales: who grew, who didn't

According to the latest Truck Industry Council TMARK data, a total of 34,476 new trucks and vans were registered in 2020, which was a contraction of 9.2 per cent over the corresponding 2019 figure. In a year that began with catastrophic bushfires which soon flowed into the worst pandemic in a century, that fall is perhaps quite modest, and was further constrained by a strong finish in the month of December.

The last month of 2020 saw 3478 new commercial vehicles registered, the figure representing growth of 7.1% over the same month in 2019.

And while many individual brands' sales charts were awash with red ink, there were still a fortunate few who bucked the trend in the unprecedented year that was – namely Fuso, DAF, and Hyundai.

Meanwhile market leader Isuzu took a modest hit, its year-to-date tally of 8276 trucks down 4.0% on 2019, while Hino, in second place with overall registrations with 5195 units, was down by 6.0%. That left Fuso to round out the podium, which it did in fine style. Its tally of 3529 registrations was 6.0% up on 2019.

Looking at the major multi-brand conglomerates in Australia, Daimler (Fuso/Mercedes-Benz/Freightliner) topped the chart in 2020 with a total of 5077 new registrations, followed by Volvo Group Australia (Volvo/Mack/UD Trucks) with 3105, PACCAR (Kenworth/DAF) with 2618, and Penske Commercial Vehicles (Western Star/MAN/Dennis Eagle) with 640.

Rank, Brand, 2019 YTD, 2020 YTD, % CHG

1. Isuzu, 8621, 8276, -4.0
2. Hino, 5524, 5195, -6.0
3. Fuso, 3382, 3529, +4.3
4. Kenworth, 2350, 2115, -10.0
5. Volvo, 2279, 1821, -20.1
6. IVECO, 1661, 1409, -15.2
7. Mercedes-Benz, 1624, 1291, -20.5
8. Scania, 1149, 886, -22.9
9. Mack, 1047, 705, -32.7
10. UD Trucks, 678, 579, -14.6
11. DAF, 461, 503, +9.1
12. Fiat, 600, 502, -16.3
13. MAN, 1020, 359, -64.8
14. Freightliner, 280, 257, -8.2
15. Western Star, 269, 228, -15.2
16. Renault, 322, 190, -41.0
17. Hyundai, 104, 135, +29.8
18. Ford, 99, 86, -13.1
19. Volkswagen, N/A, 55, N/A
20. Dennis Eagle, 85, 53, -37.6
21. International, 54, 49, -9.3

The worst of the pain felt throughout the Australian truck industry was at the heavy end of the spectrum, with the 10,616 new heavy-duty trucks registered through the year representing a drop of 16.6% over 2019. To put that in even greater perspective, the 2020 tally is down 26.0% on 2018, when the market set an all-time record for new registrations.

However, even the heavy-duty segment experienced some respite in the month of December, the 1144 units registered equating with growth of 2.5% over the same month in 2019. Market leader Kenworth shifted an impressive 326 units for the month, which represents growth of 50.2% over the December 2019.

Just two brands experienced overall growth in the heavy-duty segment in 2020, DAF and UD Trucks, with the top three brands by volume – Kenwoth, Volvo, and Isuzu – all losing ground, by 10.0%, 22.3% and 17.3% respectively.

In the major blocks of Australian distributors, Volvo Group Australia led the heavy-duty charge in 2020 with 2909 new registrations, followed by PACCAR (2597), Daimler (1620) and Penske Commercial Vehicles (461).

Rank, Brand, 2019 YTD, 2020 YTD, % CHG

1. Kenworth, 2350, 2114, -10.0
2. Volvo, 2239, 1740, -22.3
3. Isuzu, 1518, 1255, -17.3
4. Mercedes-Benz, 998, 930, -6.8
5. Scania, 1140, 880, -22.8
6. Mack, 1047, 705, -32.7
7. DAF, 436, 483, +10.8
8. Hino, 580, 482, -16.9
9. UD Trucks, 451, 464, +2.9
10. Fuso, 447, 433, -3.1
11. IVECO, 457, 362, -20.8
12. Freightliner, 280, 257, -8.2
13. Western Star, 268, 228, -14.9
14. MAN, 380, 181, -52.4
15. Dennis Eagle, 85, 52, -38.8
16. International, 54, 49, -9.3
17. Hyundai, 3, 1, -66.7

Related reading:
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Truck sales: June rebound eases downturn impact
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The medium-duty segment finished 11.1% down over 2019, with the niche recording a total of 6589 new registrations. It too, however, enjoyed a stellar end to a difficult year, with December's tally of 655 new vehicles representing growth of 17.0% over the same month in 2019.

Fuso, IVECO and Volvo all posted growth in the medium-duty segment over the year, while first and second-place getters – Isuzu and Hino – shrank (by 7.9% and 4.0% respectively). Fuso rounded out the podium with a 1.0% gain.

It was a mixed bag in medium-duty, with sales hitting a brick wall for brands like MAN, UD Trucks and Scania, while fortune favoured IVECO and Volvo.

Rank, Brand, 2019 YTD, 2020 YTD, % CHG

1. Isuzu, 2896, 2668, -7.9
2. Hino, 2339, 2245, -4.0
3. Fuso, 1063, 1074, +1.0
4. MAN, 640, 178, -72.2
5. IVECO, 113, 158, +39.8
6. UD Trucks, 227, 115, -49.3
7. Volvo, 40, 81, +102.5
8. Mercedes-Benz, 58, 42, -27.6
9. DAF, 25, 20, -20.0
10. Scania, 9, 6, -33.3
11. Kenworth, N/A, 1, N/A
12. Dennis Eagle, N/A, 1, N/A

A total of 11,018 new trucks were registered in the light-duty segment in 2020, which was 4.1% down on 2019. December saw the year finish with a slight uptick, with the 1069 new trucks registered representing growth of 2.4% over December 2019.

Isuzu led the light-duty market with 4353 units (up 3.5%), followed by Hino with 2468 (down 5.3%) and Fuso with 2022 (up 8.0%).

Mercedes-Benz took a big hit, its year-end tally down by 43.8% over the previous year, while Hyundai and Volkswagen both ramped up, growing by 32.7% and 150% respectively, although off smaller bases.

Rank, Brand, 2019 YTD, 2020 YTD, % CHG

1. Isuzu, 4207, 4353, +3.5
2. Hino, 2605, 2468, -5.3
3. Fuso, 1872, 2022, +8.0
4. IVECO, 1091, 889, -18.5
5. Fiat, 600, 502, -16.3
6. Mercedes-Benz, 568, 319, -43.8
7. Renault, 322, 190, -41.0
8. Hyundai, 101, 134, +32.7
9. Ford, 99, 86, -13.1
10. Volkswagen, 22, 55, +150.0

The 6253 new light-duty vans registered in 2020 saw the segment finish slightly down (by 1.2%) over the previous year, but a spectacular final month saw 610 models fly off showroom floors – that's growth of 15.5% over December 2019.

Surprisingly, it was traditional segment leader Mercedes-Benz that took one of the biggest hits, the 2163 Sprinters registered equating with a drop of 22.2%.

Renault was in second, its 1239 Master variants delivering growth of 9.8% over the previous year, while Volkswagen's new Crafter leapfrogged Ford's Transit to end up in third, with 1170 new registrations racking up impressive growth of 51.2%

Rank, Brand, 2019 YTD, 2020 YTD, % CHG

1. Mercedes-Benz, 2781, 2163, -22.2
2. Renault, 1128, 1239, +9.8
3. Volkswagen, 774, 1170, +51.2
4. Ford, 864, 1065, +23.3
5. Fiat, 444, 318, -28.4
6. IVECO, 338, 298, -11.8

"The positive trend in new truck sales witnessed for much of the second half of 2020 and particularly evident in October and November, accelerated further in the month of December," said Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council.

"The December heavy-duty Truck sector result marked the fifth consecutive period of month-on-month sales growth, with sales since July showing a positive, constant, upward trend. December heavy and medium-duty truck sales were particularly strong, almost certainly as a direct result of the Federal Government's new 'unlimited' instant asset write-off incentive, announced in the October 2020 Budget.

"Given the nature of new heavy truck sales, there is a lag between ordering a new truck, its completion/body fitment, pre-delivery, registration and final delivery to the customer. This is typically two to three months for heavy and medium-duty trucks.

"The Truck Industry Council was always of the belief that it would take a couple of months at least before the positive effects of the Federal Government's October stimulus package would be reflected in TMARK sales. I believe that we have started to witness those positive results in December.

"TIC believes that sales will remain solid as we enter 2021, though the recent up-tick in COVID-19 cases and the resultant border closures by some states and territories may slow sales somewhat in the opening months of 2021.

"That said, the general outlook for the Australian economy this year looks healthy and we remain positive that will translate to solid new truck sales in 2021."