Australian truck sales ease in January as market continues to cool

The Truck Industry Council (TIC) data for January points to a cooling heavy vehicle market, with sales trailing the record-breaking pace set during the same period last year.

A total of 2464 new trucks and vans were delivered, representing an 11.5 per cent decline on the 2786 units sold in January last year. It is worth noting that the first month of the year can be prone to fluctuations due to the holiday period and the rollover of stock between calendar years.

In this case, the downturn is most likely a reflection of ongoing economic pressures, continued market normalisation after several record years, and the industry’s transition to ADR 80/04 (Euro 6) emissions standards.

While year-on-year figures are down, the market remains active, with several key brands maintaining solid momentum despite the softer start to 2026.

Related: Australian truck sales remain resilient in 2025 despite market slowdown

The heavy-duty segment recorded 788 sales for the month, a 12.2 per cent drop from the 898 units delivered in January last year.

Despite the broader slowdown, the top end of the market continues to show resilience, with a number of brands posting notable gains across the month.

Kenworth maintained its market dominance with 196 deliveries, down 9.3 per cent year-on-year. Volvo bucked the segment’s downward trend with 147 sales, up from 128 in January 2025, while DAF more than doubled its January result, climbing from 22 units to 44.

Heavy-duty truck sales – January 2026

Kenworth: 196
Volvo: 147
Isuzu: 124
Scania: 63
DAF: 44
Fuso: 42
Mack: 41
Mercedes-Benz: 34
UD Trucks: 24
Hino: 23
MAN: 15
Western Star: 13
Freightliner: 11
Iveco: 9
Dennis Eagle: 2

The medium-duty segment remains the most challenged part of the market, finishing January with just 292 sales. This represents a sharp 38.1 per cent decline compared to the 472 units sold in the same month last year.

The contraction reflects a longer-term shift within the freight sector, as operators increasingly favour light-duty trucks for urban work or heavy-duty vehicles for higher-capacity transport tasks.

Isuzu continued its dominance of the segment, accounting for more than half of all medium-duty deliveries with 148 units.

Medium-duty truck sales – January 2026

Isuzu: 148
Fuso: 63
Hino: 51
Hyundai: 12
Mercedes-Benz: 8
MAN: 3
Volvo: 2
Iveco: 2
DAF: 2
UD Trucks: 1

Light-duty trucks again proved the most resilient category, with 703 units delivered — a modest 3.4 per cent decline from the 728 units sold in January 2025.

Ongoing demand for urban delivery and last-mile logistics continues to underpin the segment, with operators still prepared to invest in smaller commercial vehicles despite broader economic uncertainty.

Isuzu led the category with 265 sales, followed by Hino (183) and Fuso (138).

Light-duty truck sales – January 2026

Isuzu: 265
Hino: 183
Fuso: 138
Mercedes-Benz: 42
FIAT: 31
Volkswagen: 13
LDV: 12
Iveco: 10
Hyundai: 6
Renault: 2
Foton Mobility: 1

The van segment (3.5-tonne GVM and above) held steady, finishing January with 681 sales — just seven units shy of the same month last year.

This stability highlights the continued strength of city-based delivery applications, with the segment maintaining momentum following a strong finish to 2025.

Mercedes-Benz again topped the category with 233 sales, ahead of LDV (159) and Renault (103).

Light-duty van sales – January 2026

Mercedes-Benz: 233
LDV: 159
Renault: 103
Volkswagen: 63
Ford: 48
FIAT: 41
Iveco: 34