Heavy trucks lead sales momentum

The Truck Industry Council’s T-Mark new registration figures are in for August, and it’s growth in Australia’s heavy-duty truck segment that is outpacing all other major market categories.

A total of 3926 new trucks and vans were registered last month, the number up 11.5 per cent over the same month last year, while overall 28,307 new vehicles have been registered over the first eight months of 2022. That’s growth of 5.9% year to date over the same time last year.

However, it’s sales of heavy-duty trucks at the spearhead of the market’s current momentum, with the year-to-date figure in that segment up 17.8% over the previous corresponding period.

The figure outstrips growth in the medium-duty and light-duty segments by some measure, and is certainly well ahead of the light-duty van segment at present, which is the only major niche currently in decline.

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Traditional market leader Isuzu remains on top but is experiencing a major surge in sales this year, the 8354 new trucks registered year to date up an impressive 30.3% over the same time last year. Hino is second with 4313 new registrations (up 3.0%), followed by Fuso (3136, up 5.0%), Kenworth (1911, up 12.2%), and Volvo (1412, up 36.4%).

A strong August saw 1325 new trucks registered in the heavy-duty segment, the figure up 21.2% over August 2021, while a year-to-date total of 9308 new trucks delivered the aforementioned growth of 17.8%.

Kenworth continues to lead the heavy-duty segment with 1910 new trucks registered year to date, up 12.2% from this time last year, followed by Volvo (1386, up an impressive 37.4%), and then Isuzu (1312, up an incredible 56.2%).

A total of 669 new trucks were registered in August in the medium-duty segment, which equates with growth of 4.7%. That figure contributes to a year-to-date tally of 5223 new vehicles, which is up 10.9% over the previous corresponding period.

Isuzu leads the medium-duty segment with 2352 new trucks registered year to date, which is up 29.4% on the same time last year. Rounding out the medium-duty podium is Hino (1600, down 0.7%) and Fuso (866, down 6.2%).

The 1423 new trucks registered in August in the light-duty segment represents growth of 17.3% over the same month last year, while the year-to-date figure – 10,326 – is up 11.1% over the same time last year.

Isuzu leads with 4690 new trucks registered so far this year, the figure up 24.9%, followed by Hino (2209, up 1.2%) and Fuso (1784, up 5.1%).

The light-duty van segment continues to slide, with the 500 new vehicles registered in August representing a drop of 11.8%. Year to date a total of 3450 new light-duty vans have been registered, which is a significant decrease of 28.6% over the previous corresponding period.

Mercedes-Benz continues to lead the segment with 1343 units registered year to date, but that figure is down 25.1% over the first eight months of 2021. In contrast, Renault has registered 955 new vans, which represents growth of 23.4%. In third is Volkswagen, with 447 new vehicles registered year to date – a hefty drop of 44.1% over the same period last year.

“It was pleasing to see double digit sales growth continue in the heavy and light-duty truck segments, with medium-duty sales up over this time last year,” said Tony McMullan, Chief Executive Officer of Truck Industry Council.

“While van sales were down again in August, the result was much better than sales year-to-date, hopefully indicating that the supply chain issues that have hit this segment hard in 2022 are easing.

“Increasing inflation does not appear to be impacting new truck sales and while we hear that many body builders are running near, or at capacity and this may be slowing the final build of some trucks, deliveries remain at record levels.

“All in all, I believe that the industry remains on track for a record sales year, potentially exceeding 14,000 trucks in the heavy-duty segment and close to 42,000 vehicle sales for the total heavy vehicle truck and van industry.”

Catch our next report in early October for a rundown on the market's performance over the first three quarters of the calendar year.