Aussie truck market soldiers on

The latest T-Mark sales figures show the Australian truck and light commercial vehicle market is down 2.6 per cent to the end of August 2014

According to the latest T-Mark data from the Truck Industry Council, a total of 19,567 trucks and light commercial vehicles have been sold in Australia this year to the end of August, the number representing a contraction of 2.6 per cent over the corresponding 2013 period. Market leader Isuzu had sold 4573 new trucks to the end of August for a dominant market share of 23.4 per cent – that's an increase of 1.5 per cent over this time last year.

The year-to-date figures show drops for the heavy-, medium- and light-duty truck segments, while the van market is powering ahead – its 2918 units represent an increase of 12.7 per cent over this time last year.

The figures for the individual month of August 2014 were up compared to August 2013 in every segment bar heavy-duty. Sales of medium-duty trucks were up 6.9 per cent, light-duty trucks were up 8.6 per cent and vans were up a staggering 36.5 per cent, while sales of heavy-duty trucks dropped by 7.4 per cent. Overall, the market was up 5.5 per cent for the month of August 2014 compared to August 2013.

A total of 6851 new heavy-duty trucks have been sold year-to-date to the end of August, the number representing a drop of 5.6 per cent from the corresponding 2013 period. Market leader Kenworth has recorded 1372 sales so far this year for a market share of 20 per cent, but that's 1.8 per cent down on its market share at this point last year. The big winners in the heavy-duty market (at least in terms of market-share growth) are Isuzu, its 707 year-to-date sales equating with a market share of 10.3 per cent (a rise of 2.2 per cent over the corresponding 2013 period), and Mack. Mack's 648 year-to-date sales have given it a market share of 9.5 per cent, the slice equating with growth of 2.4 per cent.

While 4179 medium-duty trucks were sold year-to-date to the end of August 2014, that figure represents a contraction of 5.5 per cent for the segment over the corresponding 2013 period. Isuzu is extending its lead in the segment, its 1734 year-to-date sales giving it a 41.5 per cent slice of the market – growth of 3.2 per cent over this time last year. Hino's market share here, however, has dropped. Hino sold 1113 new medium-duty trucks to the end of August 2014 to give it a 26.6 per cent slice – that's a drop of 4.4 per cent.

In the light-duty truck market 5619 new vehicles were sold year-to-date to the end of August, the figure down 3.6 per cent on the corresponding 2013 period. Isuzu sold 2132 trucks to the end of August for a market share of 37.9 per cent, an increase in the latter of 1.4 per cent. Hino had sold 1228 for a market share of 21.9 per cent – market share growth of 2.5 per cent – while Fuso's market share declined by 3.8 per cent. Its 1075 sales equated with a slice of 19.1 per cent of the light-duty market.

That leaves vans, where 2918 new examples have been sold this year to the end of August. Market leader Mercedes-Benz has sold 1412 vans year-to-date to achieve a leading market slice of 48.4 per cent – an increase in market share of 3.8 per cent from this time last year. Even more impressive, however, is Renault. The French manufacturer has increased its year-to-date market share from 6.9 per cent to 20.1 per cent – an increase of 13.2 per cent – having now sold 586 new vans so far this year. Both Ford and Volkswagen both sustained significant drops in market share of 7.1 and 8.5 per cent respectively.

According to Tony McMullan, CEO of the Truck Industry Council, the prevailing lack of confidence in the business sector was continuing to impact truck sales.

"The August truck industry sales result reflects the broader economy with some areas doing well while others are static or in decline," he said.

"Business confidence is patchy and this is reflected in capital investment expenditure at present. While the overall numbers for the year are behind those for the same period in 2013 the gap is closing slightly and for the month of August we saw sales growth in three of the four heavy vehicle segments.

"We have now had two consecutive months of growth when compared to this time last year and I hope that this trend will continue for the rest of 2014 and into next year."

AUSTRALIA TRUCK SALES (YEAR-TO-DATE FIGURES TO THE END OF AUGUST 2014)

OVERALL

	MANUFACTURER	YTD SALES	YTD MARKET SHARE (%)
1.	Isuzu	4573	23.4
2.	Hino	2547	13.0
3.	Fuso	2031	10.4
4.	Kenworth	1372	7.0
5.	Iveco	941	4.8

HEAVY-DUTY

	MANUFACTURER	YTD SALES	YTD MARKET SHARE (%)
1.	Kenworth	1372	20.0
2.	Volvo	832	12.1
3.	Isuzu	707	10.3
4.	Mack	648	9.5
5.	Freightliner	510	7.4

MEDIUM-DUTY

	MANUFACTURER	YTD SALES	YTD MARKET SHARE (%)
1.	Isuzu	1734	41.5
2.	Hino	1113	26.6
3.	Fuso	723	17.3
4.	UD	343	8.2
5.	Mercedes-Benz	99	2.4

LIGHT-DUTY

	MANUFACTURER	YTD SALES	YTD MARKET SHARE (%)
1.	Isuzu	2132	37.9
2.	Hino	1228	21.9
3.	Fuso	1075	19.1
4.	Iveco	392	7.0
5.	Mercedes-Benz	368	6.5

VANS

	MANUFACTURER	YTD SALES	YTD MARKET SHARE (%)
1.	Mercedes-Benz	1412	48.4
2.	Renault	586	20.1
3.	Fiat	390	13.4
4.	Ford	280	9.6
5.	Volkswagen	186	6.4

Aussie truck market soldiers on

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