Aussie truck sales charge ahead

Healthy sales in August have given the Australian truck market a further boost

The Australian new truck and van market is continuing to build, with the 3263 new vehicle sales registered in the month of August equating with growth of 15.8 per cent over August last year, according to the latest T-Mark data from the Truck Industry Council (TIC).

The figure takes the year-to-date tally to 22,990 units, up some 9.0% from this time last year, with gains recorded in each of the major vehicle categories.

In the overall figures, traditional market leader Isuzu has moved 5740 units year to date to achieve growth of 7.0%, ahead of Hino (3022 units, up 5.3%) and Fuso (2338 units, holding steady). Rounding out the top five manufacturers on the sales leaderboard is Kenworth (1268 units, up 1.8%) and Volvo (1107 units, up 9.3%).

Heavy duty

August saw 1082 new heavy-duty vehicles registered, growth of 29.4%, to boost the year-to-date tally to 7121 units. That's growth of 16.5% – very welcome news in a segment that until recently has been languishing since the global financial crisis.

Leading the heavy-duty segment is Kenworth with 1268 units, which has finally turned its fortunes around to record growth, albeit minimal, of 1.9% year to date. However, Volvo continues to close the gap – it's sold 1084 units year to date, which equates with growth of 7.6%.

Isuzu lies in third, with 819 units (down 1.0%), followed by Mack with 629 units (up 22.6%) and Scania with 602 units (up an impressive 58.4%).

Medium duty

The medium-duty market was the only major segment not to post an increase in August, the 610 units registered leading to a contraction of 3.6% over the same month last year. So far this year 4585 units have been registered in the medium-duty market, which is marginally up by just 1.3% over the previous corresponding period.

Isuzu leads the medium-duty market with 1873 units year to date, a drop of 3.2%, followed by Hino with 1374 units (up 4.6%). Following some distance behind is Fuso with 649 units (a drop of 2.7%), UD Trucks with 346 units (down 3.9%) and MAN with 190 units (up a remarkable 201.6%).

Light duty

The light-duty segment is also charging ahead nicely, with the 1048 units registered for the month equating to growth of 11.6% over the same month last year. So far 7423 units have been registered year to date, putting the segment up by 8.9% over the same period last year.

Isuzu heads the light-duty market with 3048 units sold year to date, giving the market leader growth of 11.6%. Next lies Fuso with 1459 units (up 2.6%), followed by Hino with 1415 units (up 3.4%), Iveco with 557 units (up 31.1%), and Fiat with 395 units (down 4.1%).

Light-duty van

After a boom and then a slowing of the light-duty van market, it seems the segment has shot off once again. Some 523 units were registered in August to give growth of 27.6% over August 2016, while the year-to-date tally of 3861 units equates with solid growth of 6.1%.

Mercedes-Benz leads the charge with 1473 units, up 6.0%, followed by Renault with 1039 units (up 10.9%). Ford rounds out the podium with its reborn Transit family accounting for 498 units year to date – that's growth of 9.7%. That leaves Volkswagen in fourth with 320 units (down 10.4%) and Fiat in fifth with 292 units (down 14.6%).

President of TIC, Phil Taylor, said the month's performance was pleasing.

"It was pleasing to see double digit sales growth in most segments in August and this builds on strong sales in the first half of 2017," he said.

"It was a particularly strong month at both the heavy and light ends of the market. Heavy sales continue to lead the way in 2017 and this is particularly pleasing to see after a decade of slow or negative year-on-year sales in this segment."

Tony McMullan, the TIC's Chief Executive Officer, concurred with Mr Taylor's comments.

"It was very much business as usual in August with solid growth in all segments except medium-duty trucks," he said.

"Again we saw the yearlong trend of healthy heavy -duty truck sales continue; this is particularly pleasing given that this segment has had a very slow recovery from the market lows seen directly follow the Global Financial Crisis some 10 years ago now.

"We are still some way short of record sales last seen in 2007 in the heavy segment, but signs are positive that the recovery is strong and stainable. It is also pleasing to see that the light truck and van segments are tracking at near record levels and comfortably above 2016 sales."

Aussie truck sales charge ahead

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