COVID-19 strikes Aussie truck sales

The economic fallout of the global COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on sales of new trucks and commercial vehicles in Australia.

According to the latest T-Mark data from Truck Industry Council, 2302 new vehicles were registered during the month of April for a year-to-date tally of 9207 vehicles.

The April figure is 21.8 per cent down on the same month last year, while the year-to-date total is 18.2% down on the corresponding 2019 period.

Related reading:
Pandemic hits Euro truck sales
Truck sales soften in March
2019 Australian truck sales: who grew, who didn't

The five top-selling truck brands in the overall market, by year-to-date sales tallies as the end of April, are as follows (variation over the same period last year shown in parentheses).

Year-to-date overall sales to the end of April 2020:
1. Isuzu: 2172 (-14.0%)
2. Hino: 1389 (-15.1%)
3. Fuso: 855 (-25.3%)
4. Volvo: 582 (-9.2%)
5. Kenworth: 525 (-29.6%)

In the heavy-duty truck market, 809 new vehicles were sold for a year-to-date tally of 3029 trucks. That's a drop of 19.6% for the month and year-to-date drop of 22.8%.

Year-to-date heavy-duty sales to the end of April 2020:
1. Volvo: 558 (-11.6%)
2. Kenworth: 525 (-29.6%)
3. Isuzu: 387 (-17.8%)
4. Scania: 270 (-22.6%)
5. Mercedes-Benz: 222 (-30.4%)

In the medium-duty market, 417 new trucks were registered for a year-to-date tally of 1853 vehicles. It was the hardest-hit segment in April, equating with a drop of 29.9%, while the year-to-date figure is down 17.5% over the same period last year.

Year-to-date medium-duty sales to the end of April 2020:
1. Isuzu: 749 (-10.5%)
2. Hino: 616 (-10.6%)
3. Fuso: 281 (-20.6%)
4. MAN: 104 (-48.0%)
5. IVECO: 39 (-13.3%)

A total of 706 new light-duty trucks were registered in April for a year-to-date total of 2773 vehicles, the figures representing drops of 15.9% and 14.5% respectively.

Year-to-date light-duty sales to the end of April 2020:
1. Isuzu: 1036 (-14.9%)
2. Hino: 634 (-17.3%)
3. Fuso: 465 (-21.2%)
4. IVECO: 236 (-13.2%)
5. Fiat: 149 (+18.3%)

Just 370 new light-duty vans were registered in April for a year-to-date total of 1552 units. That's a drop of 26.4% for the month and a fall of 16.1% for the year-to-date figure.

Year-to-date light-duty van sales to the end of April 2020:
1. Mercedes-Benz: 651 (-5.2%)
2. Ford: 293 (-8.7%)
3. Renault: 250 (-29.4%)
4. Volkswagen: 201 (-1.0%)
5. Fiat: 86 (-41.5%)

"The April sales numbers were quite mixed, making it somewhat difficult to draw many specific conclusions from the results," said Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council.

"There is no doubt that the Australian new truck market is in the midst of lows not seen since the Global Financial Crisis, however we have not yet seen truck sales fall below levels seen in 2009/2010, though we are very close.

"I was pleased to see that the Heavy Duty segment, whilst obviously well down, performed better in terms of sales percentages than we witnessed in March. Whereas the result at the light end of the market was somewhat puzzling, Light Duty truck sales were down, but relatively stable month on month, however Light Duty Van sales continue to recede significantly. Typically, we would expect to see both Light Duty segments rise, or fall, roughly in unison, given the economic environment.

"The other significant 'known', based upon our experience of the economic downturn that occurred during and post the Global Financial Crisis, is that targeted economic stimulus will be required in all areas of the freight transport sector, not just trucks but also aviation, and rail.

"In turn, we will be looking to Australian government to provide that stimulus as we move to rebuild so much of our economy over the coming months and years."