Momentum builds for Aussie truck market

With the first quarter down, the Australian truck market is showing some promising signs of growth

According to the latest T-Mark data from the Truck Industry Council, a total of 2962 new trucks and vans were registered in March, the figure representing growth of 11.0 per cent over the same month last year. The number also pushed the year-to-date tally to 7158 units, which is 5.7% more than this time last year.

Isuzu leads overall year-to-date sales with 1792 units, up 7.1% on the same time last year, followed by Hino (938 units, up 5.6%), Fuso (771 units, up 5.0%), Kenworth (349 units, down 12.8%), and Volvo (321 units, up 2.2%).

Heavy-duty

After several years in the doldrums, things appear to be looking up in the heavy-duty segment. The 979 trucks registered for March represent an increase of 23.0% over the same Month last year, while the 2116 units registered year to date equate with year-on-year growth of 11.1%.

Kenworth remains on top in the heavy-duty segment but it is still struggling, the 349 trucks it's registered year to date representing a drop of 12.8% on this time last year. It's followed by Volvo (318 units, up 1.3%), Isuzu (230 units, up 2.2%), Mack (194 units, up 27.6%) and Scania (180 units, up 168.7%).

Medium-duty

The medium-duty segment is essentially holding steady. The 554 trucks registered in March equated with growth of 4.5% over the same month last year, but the 1379 units registered year to date is only 0.5% up over the previous corresponding period.

Isuzu is on top in the medium-duty segment with 587 units year to date, which is 4.4% up on the corresponding period last year. Isuzu is followed by Hino (440 units, up 10.8%), Fuso (190 units, down 9.5%), UD Trucks (110 units, down 10.6%) and Iveco (20 units, down 33.3%).

Light-duty

The light-duty segment continues to move ahead, and even though the 923 units registered for March represent minimal growth of 1.5% over March 2016, the year-to-date tally of 2334 units is a solid 7.2% up over the previous corresponding period.

Isuzu dominates the light-duty segment with 975 units years to date, the figure up 10.0% from this time last year. That leaves Fuso in second (489 units, up 10.6%), followed by Hino (434 units, up 0.5%), Iveco (146 units, up 21.7 per cent) and Mercedes-Benz (117 units, up 44.4%).

With the van boom cooling off in recent times, the latest data shows the light-duty van segment is holding steady. Some 506 vehicles were registered in March, growth of 16.6%, while a total of 1329 units year to date equates with negligible growth of just 0.7%.

The President of Truck Industry Council, the peak industry body for truck manufacturers and importers in Australia, Phil Taylor, said it was a promising first quarter.

"I am pleased to see that March truck sales were more in line with industry expectations and this has helped normalise sales to the end of the first quarter of 2017," he said.

"The market looks good at the end of March; let's hope that this trend continues for the rest of the year!"

Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council, said the quarter's results offered some welcome respite from the turbulence of recent times.

"March has brought some stability to the new truck sales market here in Australia," he said.

"Sales in each segment are in line with, or ahead of, sales last year and this is pleasing to see at the end of the first quarter of 2017. I am particularly pleased to see that the heavy-duty segment is leading sales growth in the market to the end of March.

"It has been a few years since we have seen heavy truck sales lead the way. This is a likely indicator that business confidence is improving with companies committing to higher capital investments.

Momentum builds for Aussie truck market

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