All-time record for Aussie truck sales

A total of 41,638 new trucks and vans were registered in 2018, eclipsing the pre-GFC tally of 38,131 units, set in 2007, by some 3497 vehicles. According to the latest Truck Industry Council T-Mark data, last year saw an all-time record number of commercial vehicles hit our streets, leaving many wondering just how far this bull market has yet to charge…

Sales for the month of December may have been down slightly (by 0.5 per cent), with 3455 new units registered, but that didn't put too much of a dent in the overall 12-month figure, with 41,628 units equating with growth of 13.0% over 2017.

Now entering its 30th year of consecutive sales leadership, Isuzu broke through the magic 10,000 unit mark to record 10,027 new registrations, the number nearly twice that of its nearest competitor, Hino (5646 units), which placed ahead of Fuso (4302).

The top 10 brands in the overall market all recorded double-digit growth over the previous year, with particularly strong performances from Kenworth (up 25.1%), IVECO (up 30.7%), Mercedes-Benz (up 25.8%) and MAN (up 26.7%).

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 8898, 10,027, +12.7
2. Hino, 4820, 5646, +17.1
3. Fuso, 3744, 4302, +14.9
4. Kenworth, 2355, 2946, +25.1
5. Volvo, 1871, 2175, +16.2
6. IVECO, 1492, 1950, +30.7
7. Mercedes-Benz, 1488, 1872, +25.8
8. MAN, 961, 1218, +26.7
9. Mack, 1026, 1134, +10.5
10. UD Trucks, 917, 1015, +10.7
11. Scania, 1004, 894, -11.0
12. Fiat, 692, 650, -6.1
13. DAF, 420, 525, +25.0
14. Freightliner, 418, 413, -1.2
15. Western Star, 363, 349, -3.9
16. Renault, 129, 257, +99.2
17. Hyundai, 31, 94, +203.2
18. Ford, 98, 78, -20.4
19. International, 14, 61, +335.7
20. Dennis Eagle, 132, 59, -55.3

Sales in the heavy-duty segment slowed a little in December, with the 1186 units recorded representing a drop of 5.1% over the same month from the previous year, but the overall year-to-date figure topped out at 14,344 units – massive growth of 19.5% over the 2017 tally.

Once again it was Kenworth (2946 units) leading the charge from Volvo (2138), with Isuzu rounding out the podium (1858). Growth was recorded for the vast majority of brands in the niche, with the top six all recording impressive gains from 2017 – especially Hino (up 55.4%) and Fuso (up 62.1%).

Scania, however, was down 11.1% due to ongoing supply issues of its new-generation truck, while Freightliner and Western Star both recorded a minor contraction over the previous year.

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Kenworth, 2355, 2946, +25.1
2. Volvo, 1845, 2138, +15.9
3. Isuzu, 1387, 1858, +34.0
4. Mack, 1026, 1134, +10.5
5. Mercedes-Benz, 813, 1097, +34.9
6. Scania, 1003, 891, -11.1
7. IVECO, 558, 631, +13.1
8. Hino, 392, 609, +55.4
9. Fuso, 369, 598, +62.1
10. UD Trucks, 393, 535, +36.1
11. MAN, 499, 520, +4.2
12. DAF, 388, 492, +26.8
13. Freightliner, 417, 412, -1.2
14. Western Star, 363, 349, -3.9
15. International, 14, 61, +335.7
16. Dennis Eagle, 131, 57, -56.5
17. Cat, 49, 16, -67.3

Sales for the month of December were up 3.9% in the medium-duty segment with a total of 693 trucks, but the full year saw 8210 new vehicles on the road, equating with growth of 12.2%.

The Japanese brands dominate this segment and that didn't change in 2018, with Isuzu ahead of Hino and then Fuso. Major percentage gains were posted by MAN (up 51.1%) and IVECO (up 66.7%), while the only brand to experience a contraction was UD Trucks (down 8.4%).

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 2870, 3307, +15.2
2. Hino, 2156, 2187, +1.4
3. Fuso, 1073, 1230, +14.6
4. MAN, 462, 698, +51.1
5. UD Trucks, 524, 480, -8.4
6. IVECO, 84, 140, +66.7
7. DAF, 32, 33, +3.1
8. Mercedes-Benz, 78, 92, +17.9
9. Volvo, 26, 37, +42.3
10. Scania, 1, 3, +200.0

The Australian light-duty truck market ending the year on a high note, with the 1188 new vehicle sales recorded in November representing growth of 12.4% over December 2017. It was a similar story in the overall figures, with the year-end total of 13,129 units up some 12.9% over the previous year's tally.

Isuzu led the way with a year-end tally of 4862 units, but it was second-placed Hino (2850 units) that posted the greatest growth – the figure was an increase of 25.4% over its performance in 2017. IVECO posted the biggest percentage increase – a jump of 38.7% – while, at the lower end of the unit totals, strong gains were also made by Renault (up 99.2%) and recent return to the Australian market, Hyundai (up 203.2%).

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 4641, 4862, +4.8
2. Hino, 2272, 2850, +25.4
3. Fuso, 2302, 2474, +7.5
4. IVECO, 850, 1179, +38.7
5. Mercedes-Benz, 597, 683, +14.4
6. Fiat, 692, 650, -6.1
7. Renault, 129, 257, +99.2
8. Hyundai, 31, 94, +203.2
9. Ford, 98, 78, -20.4

The light-duty van segment largely missed out on the gains made in the other major segments, with the 388 units added in December representing a drop of 22.2% over the same month in 2017. The year-to-date tally of 5945 units was just 1.1% up from the 2017 total.

Mercedes-Benz continues with its stranglehold of this market and posted a solid double-digit gain (up 10.5%), ahead of the introduction of its next-generation and tech-laden Sprinter. The German marque held a market share of 42.8% at the close of 2018, nearly double that of its nearest rival, Renault, which held a 21.5% slice, while Ford trails in third, with its Transit accounting for a 12.2% share.

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Mercedes-Benz, 2306, 2547, +10.5
2. Renault, 1507, 1278, -15.2
3. Ford, 777, 727, -6.4
4. Fiat, 471, 525, +11.5
5. Volkswagen, 465, 503, +8.2
6. IVECO, 357, 365, +2.2

"It was pleasing to see 2018 finish by setting a new all-time sales record for new truck sales in Australia, finally eclipsing the pre-GFC peak set in 2007," said the CEO of TIC, Tony McMullan.

"It was equally pleasing to see that new truck and van sales broke through the 40,000 mark for the first time, with the final figure of 41,628 sales, surpassing industry expectations. Heavy and light trucks as well as van sales set new, whole of year, sale records and the light truck segment in particular showed no sign of slowing growth over the 12 months of the year.

"If there is a concern to be taken from the numbers in 2018, it is the noticeable slowing of the heavy and medium truck and the van segments in the final quarter of 2018. This trend and the business confidence uncertainty that always accompanies a Federal Government election points to a receding new truck sales market in 2019.

"My hope is, that should this eventuate, the drop in sales will be minimal and that the second half of 2019 will see the market in recovery."

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