Sales reveal two-speed industry

Registration data for the month of March 2015 shows the Australian truck industry is marching to two separate beats, with a surge of sales of light-duty trucks and LCVs offsetting a continued slide in the heavy-duty market.

T-Mark data released recently by the Truck Industry Council shows that new commercial vehicle registrations are up by 1.1 per cent at the end of the first quarter of 2015 compared with the previous corresponding period, with 6615 units, while the 2893 units registered in March represent an increase of 10.0%.

However, it's the lighter offerings that are nudging that overall figure into positive territory – the light-duty segment was up 27.3% for March and 11.2% overall, thanks to respective totals of 867 and 2017 units, while vans saw March registrations spike by 41.4% to give year-to-date growth of 23.1%, with respective totals of 560 and 1214 units.

Those figures are in stark contrast to those for the heavy-duty market, which saw registrations for March fall by 11.7% and the year-to-date tally fall by 14.3%, with respective totals of 885 and 2041 units.

The medium-duty market is holding steady, its March tally of 581 units equating with growth of 5.3%, giving a marginal year-to-date contraction of 1.5% (1343 units).

OVERALL
The top five brands by registrations remained largely unchanged from this time last year, although Volvo has edged out Iveco in fifth place. Isuzu continues to lead the market even though its year-to-date registrations dropped by 3.0%, while Hino and Fuso – placed second and third – have posted significant improvements, registering growth of 11.0 and 8.8% respectively. In fourth place Kenworth has recorded growth of 5.5% while in fifth Volvo has recorded growth of 13.5%, the latter helped along by the release of its next generation of trucks.

HEAVY DUTY
While the heavy-duty segment is largely awash with red ink, traditional leader Kenworth has in fact bucked the trend with growth of 5.5%, while second-placed Volvo has posted growth of 13.9%. Isuzu rounds out the podium with a contraction of 7.1%, followed by Western Star (down 22.6%) and Mack (down 29.4%).

MEDIUM DUTY
Isuzu dominates the medium duty segment but experienced a drop in registrations of 2.1% over the first quarter, while in second Hino experienced growth of 4.7%. Fuso, in third, recorded a drop of 8.7%, while UD Trucks is on a charge with growth of 21.3%. That leaves Iveco in fifth, despite recording a drop of 31.6%.

LIGHT DUTY
Isuzu leads the light-duty segment, although its registrations are down 1.9%. In second, Hino has posted growth of 24.6%, while third-placed Fuso has shown a similar improvement, recording growth of 23.9%. Mercedes-Benz has recorded impressive growth of 78.4% to sit in fourth, ahead of Iveco, which has recorded a drop of 15.8%.

VANS
It's Mercedes-Benz leading the vans segment, its registrations equating with growth of 2.6%, while Renault continues its charge to sit in second, with growth of 67.2%. Sales of Ford's new Transit and Transit Custom are finally having an impact, with the Blue Oval sitting in third and showing growth of 61.4%, ahead of Fiat (up 18.1%) and Volkswagen (up 22.8%).

According to TIC Chief Executive Officer, Tony McMullan, Australia's commercial-vehicle market is still weak despite the positive overall result.

"It is encouraging to see a good result in March, however the result was brought about by some very good light-duty truck sales and some exceptional light-duty van sales, while heavy-duty truck sales continue to decline," he said.

"I am particularly concerned that heavy-duty truck sales are showing no sign of recovery and this probably indicates the lack of business confidence in the Australian market at present. It appears that companies are simply delaying their big-dollar fleet replacement plans."

2015 NEW TRUCK SALES (Q1): OVERALL (TOP 10)

2015 NEW TRUCK SALES (Q1): HEAVY-DUTY (TOP 10)