Aussie truck sales charge on

The latest T-Mark data from the Truck Industry Council shows a total of 3845 new trucks and vans were sold in August, the figure a sizeable 17.7 per cent up on the same month last year.

The result is largely mirrored in the year-to-date figures, with the 27,159 vehicles sold until the end of August equating with growth of 18.0%.

It's clear the pent-up demand of the years since the Global Financial Crisis is still far from satisfied, with significant positive growth across all the major commercial vehicle categories.

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Long-established traditional market leader, Isuzu, heads up the overall tally with 6394 units, up 11.4% from the previous corresponding period, ahead of Hino (3634, up 20.3%), Fuso (2828, up 21.0%), Kenworth (1820, up 43.5%) and Volvo (1423, up 28.5%).

Some 1257 new heavy-duty vehicles were sold in August, which is 16.1% more than the same month last year, giving a year-to-date tally of 9165 units. That's massive growth of 28.7%, year on year, from a segment that previously had been languishing until fairly recently.

Kenworth leads the charge with a year-to-date total of 1820 units, ahead of Volvo (1393), Isuzu (1169), Mercedes-Benz (763) and Mack (706).

The medium-duty market accounted for 721 sales last month, up 18.4% on August 2017, giving a year-to-date total of 5431 units (up 18.5%).

Isuzu is on top in medium-duty with 2129 units year-to-date, ahead of Hino (1448), Fuso (811), MAN (509) and UD Trucks (316).

The light-duty segment also enjoyed a strong month, with 1154 new trucks sold in August – the figure up 9.8% on the same month last year. A total of 8370 light-duty trucks have been sold to the end of August, which is 12.5% more than at this point last year.

Isuzu is once again on top in light-duty with 3096 sales year-to-date, ahead of Hino (1801), Fuso (1645), Iveco (740) and Mercedes-Benz (407).

And the light-duty van segment enjoyed a stellar month in August, its 713 sales equating to growth of 36.3% over the last month last year. A total of 4193 light-duty vans have been sold so far this year, which is 8.6% more than this time last year.

According to Tony McMullan, the TIC's Chief Executive Officer, the latest results are on track for record-breaking year.

"It was pleasing to see double-digit sales growth continue in the heavy and medium-duty truck segments and while the rate of growth has slowed slightly in July and August, much of this can be attributed to seasonal sales trends for those months," he said.

"We also hear that many body builders are running near or at capacity, and this may be slowing the final build of some trucks and impacting new truck deliveries slightly. All in all, I believe that the industry remains on track for a record sales year, potentially reaching 14,000 trucks in the heavy-duty segment and close to 40,000 vehicles for the total heavy vehicle truck and van industry."