Aussie truck sales hold steady

T-Mark data for November shows overall year-to-date truck and van sales are now just slightly down on this time last year

According to the latest T-Mark sales data from the Truck Industry Council, a total of 2605 new trucks and vans were sold in the month of November, the figure representing growth of 2.5 per cent over November 2013 but a significant drop of 9.7% from last month's tally.

The monthly total does, however, represent the fifth consecutive month of growth over 2013 figures.

A total of 27,800 new trucks and vans have been sold this year to the end of November, which is down just 0.6% on this time last year.

Traditional leader Isuzu leads the pack with 6571 year-to-date sales (up 5.3% on the prior corresponding period), ahead of Hino (3609 units, down 5.9%), Fuso (2876 units, down 4.1%), Kenworth (2008 units, down 9.7%), and Volvo (1279 units, down 0.8%).

Mercedes-Benz continues to perform strongly in the overall figures, its 975 units representing growth of 34.7%, but Daimler sibling Freightliner hasn't fared so well – its 650 sales represent a contraction of 19.6%.

Volvo's overall sales of 1291 units are down 0.8%, but Volvo Group siblings Mack (901 units) and UD (714 units) are powering ahead, the figures representing growth of 16.3% and 19.8% respectively.

Cat Trucks is steadily expanding its footprint in the Australian market, its 173 year-to-date sales equating with growth of 69.6%.

HEAVY DUTY

November saw 969 heavy-duty truck sales recorded, representing growth of 6.6% over November 2013, but the year-to-date total of 9678 units is still down by 4.7% on last year.

Traditional segment leader Kenworth continues to dominant with a 20.7% slice of the market, but its 2008 year-to-date sales are still down 9.7% on last year.

Rounding out the top five then are Volvo (1288 units, down 0.4%), Isuzu (1012 units, up an impressive 21.9%), Mack (901 units, up 16.3%) and Scania (653 units, up 14.0%).

MEDIUM DUTY

Some 526 medium-duty trucks were sold in November, that figure down 1.3% on November 2013, while the year-to-date figure of 5946 represents a contraction of 2.6%.

Isuzu is holding a market-leading share of 42.1% of this segment, its 2504 year-to-date sales equating with growth of 3.5%.

Next comes Hino (1611 units, down 12.7%), Fuso (967 units, up 3.9%), UD (522 units, up 12.0%) and Mercedes-Benz (126 units, down 9.4%).

LIGHT DUTY

A total of 723 light-duty trucks were sold in November, that figure up 2.3% from November 2013. A total of 7965 light-duty trucks were sold to the end of November, which represents growth of 1.5% from the corresponding 2013 period.

Isuzu continues its domination in the light-duty segment, where its 3055 year-to-date sales represent growth of 2.2% and a market share of 38.4%.

Hino is sitting second with 1727 year-to-date sales (up 10.8%) while Fuso is third with 1529 sales (down 10.3%). Iveco's 553 sales equate with a contraction of 8.0% while Mercedes-Benz's 525 sales represents massive growth of 122.5%.

VANS

The van market continues as a leading light in the wider commercial market; the 387 examples sold in November represent a contraction of 1.5% over November 2013 but the 4211 units sold to the end of November this year equate with solid growth of 8.6%.

Mercedes-Benz's year-to-date sales of 1970 units gives the manufacturer a dominant share of 46.8% (and growth of 16.7%), while second-placed Renault is surging ahead – its 919 units represent growth of 96.4%.

That leaves Fiat (499 units, down 1.4%), Ford (461 units, down 18.1%) and Volkswagen (255 units, down a significant 46.9%).

According to Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council, current market performance is still well below that of pre-GFC levels.

"We will have to wait and see if December new truck sales will be strong enough to bring home the best post-GFC sales result for the industry, better than 2013, or if the market will pull up short of last year," he said.

"Either way, the final result will be well short of the record year that we saw in 2007 by some 20 per cent. We must remain mindful that at the current new truck sales rate, the truck fleet is not being replenished at a level greater than the nation’s freight task is growing and, as such, the Australian truck park will continue to grow older."

Aussie truck sales hold steady

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