Record truck sales in April

A total of 3613 trucks and heavy vans with a GVM of over 3500kg were sold in April, reports Truck Industry Council, this figure down 560 units on the previous month but up 307 units, or 9.3 per cent, over April last year, marking an all-time record for the month.

Year-to-date sales are also well above all previous results, with 14,071 heavy vehicle deliveries to the end of April. That is 1948 vehicles more than were sold in the previous corresponding period (up 16.1%), which fell in the previous record year. In fact, the April result was good news across all segments, but in particular for the heavy-duty and light-duty truck sectors.

The heavy-duty truck segment was up yet again in April with a total of 1295 units delivered. That’s up 25.0%, or 259 trucks, over April 2022. This was a new record for April heavy-duty truck sales, eclipsing the previous high mark of 1156 sales set in 2018.

The trend is almost as strong year-to-date, with heavy-duty sales tracking up 21.3% over this time in 2022. In unit numbers that is 862 more heavy-duty trucks sold than this time last year. Total sales thus far in 2023 for the heavy-duty segment are standing at 4910 units.

The medium-duty truck segment is tracking at about the same level as last year and April saw that trend continue. In April, 609 medium-duty truck sales were recorded, representing a 0.3% decrease (or just two fewer units) over April 2022.

The April result keeps the year-to-date 2023 medium-duty truck segment sales at 2022 levels, with sales to the end of April down 1.3%, or down 26 fewer units, than over the first four months of 2023.

The other ‘high achiever’ in 2023, the light-duty truck segment, again posted record sales in April. Light-duty truck sales for the month totalled 1277 vehicles, a modest rise of 3.1% over April 2022, but a new light-duty truck sales record for April, surpassing the previous best April result set just last year.

In vehicle numbers the gain, April 2022 to 2023, was 38 trucks. Light-duty truck sales year-to-date are ahead of the same period in 2022 by 16.0%, or 715 trucks, with 5199 trucks delivered year-to-date.

Van sales last year were quite soft due to ongoing supply-chain issues, but sales have rebounded somewhat in 2023. Light-duty vans, those vans with a GVM over 3500kg, recorded 432 sales for the month of April, up just 2.9%, or 12 vans, over April 2022.

Year-to-date the story is much better for the van segment, with the tally standing at 1755 units. This is up 29.5% (or 400 vans) compared with the same period in 2022.

“It is encouraging to see another good result in April to follow the solid first quarter figures,” said Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council.

“It is particularly encouraging to see heavy- and light-duty truck segment sales showing such continued strength. We are currently sitting on record sales growth and that is a strong position to be in as we head towards the end of the financial year.”