Sales strengthen in May

Sales of new trucks and vans shot ahead last month compared to the previous month, with the latest Truck Industry Council (TIC) T-MARK data showing 2688 vehicles were registered in May – a 12.5 per cent increase over April's tally.

Month-on-month registrations increased for heavy-duty trucks (up 7.6%), medium-duty trucks (up 23.7%) and light-duty trucks (up 19.5%), while registrations of new light-duty vans decreased by 1.0%.

Registrations for May were up 4.4% over the same month last year, while last month ended with year-to-date registrations totalling 11,693 units – an increase of 3.2% over the previous corresponding period.

Compared to May last year, the heavy-duty market continues to struggle, down 15.4% for the month (793 units) and 13.2% year to date (3571 units), while medium-duty was up 8.3% for the month (590 units) and up 3.1% year to date (2410 units) and light-duty was up 13.7% for the month (822 units) and up 10.6% year to date (3527 units).

Registrations of new vans continue to power ahead – the segment was up 30.5% in May (483 units) compared to the corresponding month last year and up 29.1% year to date (2185 units).

OVERALL
Isuzu continues to lead the Australian market in outright sales, although its year-to-date tally of 2566 units is down 0.5% on this time last year (its market share down from 22.8% to 21.9%).

Hino is continuing to make ground, its year-to-date total of 1688 units representing growth of 12.0% (its market share up from 13.3% to 14.4%).

In third place overall Fuso is also gaining ground, its year-to-date tally of 1217 units representing growth of 5.4%, and its market share growing from 10.2% to 10.4%.

Heavy-duty specialist Kenworth is sitting in fourth place overall, its 768 units equating with marginal growth of 0.8%, while its market share has essentially held steady (contracting slightly from 6.7% to 6.6%.

In fifth lies Volvo, which had registered 541 units year to date. That's growth of 3.8%, while its market share has remained static at 4.6%.

HEAVY-DUTY
Kenworth leads the heavy-duty segment with 768 units (up 0.8% on the previous corresponding period) and a segment market share of 21.5%, ahead of Volvo (539 units, market share of 15.1%), Isuzu (450 units, market share of 12.6%), Mack (298 units, market share of 8.3%) and Western Star (254 units, market share of 7.1%).

In a tough market the top three players (Kenworth, Volvo and Isuzu) have all managed to increase their year-to-date sales over the same period last year, with the brands registering growth of 0.8%, 3.7% and 0.7% respectively.

Mack's year-to-date tally has dropped back from last year (its registrations are down 24.9%), as has that of Western Star (down 18.8%).

MEDIUM-DUTY
In the medium-duty segment it's Isuzu forging ahead with 947 year-to-date registrations. The figure is up 3.2% on this time last year while the brand's market share has remained static at 39.3%.

Hino has registered 711 new medium-duty vehicles – that's growth of 7.6% for a greater market share of 29.5% (up from 28.3% last year) – while rounding out the podium is Fuso with 397 units, representing a drop of 6.8%. Fuso's market share in the medium-duty market has also decreased, dropping from 18.2% this time last year to 16.5%.

Sitting in fourth is UD Trucks, its 222 units representing impressive growth of 23.3%, while its market share has increased from 7.7% to 9.2%.

That leaves Iveco rounding out the top five, with 51 units representing growth of 8.5%. The figure has seen the Italian brand increase its market share slightly from 2.0% to 2.1%.

LIGHT-DUTY
The light-duty market is powering ahead but segment leader Isuzu has relinquished a little of its lead. The Japanese giant's 1169 new registrations year to date represent a drop of 3.7%, while its market share has fallen from 38.1% this time last year to 33.1%.

Second-placed Hino is one of the culprits, its 868 units year to date delivering massive growth of 23.5% and an increase in market share from 22.1% to 24.6%. Next comes Fuso, its 707 units up by 13.5%, helping it increase its market share from 19.5% to 20.0%.

Some way behind is Mercedes-Benz, its 292 units delivering huge growth of 67.8% (also seeing its market share jump from 5.5% to 8.3%), followed by Iveco with 191 units (down 6.4%, with market share dropping from 6.4% to 5.4%).

VANS
Australia's booming van market is showing no sign of slowing down, and market leader Mercedes-Benz is leading the way with 919 units. That's growth of 10.3% over this time last year, but the three-pointed star's market share has dropped regardless – from 49.2% to 42.1%.

Rapidly gaining ground is French brand Renault. Its tally of 480 units year to date represents surging growth of 82.5%, while its market share has spiked from 15.5% to 22.0%.

In third lies Ford with 343 units – up 76.8%, with market share climbing from 11.5% to 15.7% – followed by Fiat with 234 units. That's a drop of 6.4%, with the Italian brand's market share dropping from 14.8% to 10.7%.

In fifth, meanwhile, is Volkswagen, with 147 units. While the German heavyweight's market share has remained static at 6.7%, its year-to-date tally represents growth of 28.9%.

CONTINUING TREND
According to Tony McMullan, the TIC’s Chief Executive Officer, the performance recorded by the commercial vehicle market in May sees a continuation of the prevailing trend.

"The solid May result builds on the encouraging sales seen in March and April," he said.

"However, as we have seen for much of the year to date, it is the van and light truck segments that are boosting this year's figures, while the heavy truck segment continues to decline.

"My fear is that continuing poor heavy-duty truck sales will negatively impact on the age of this segment in the Australian truck fleet. The TIC has substantial evidence that shows a direct relationship between new truck sales and truck fleet age.

"The current poor heavy-duty sales will result in older trucks in this critically important road transport sector."

MAY 2015 YEAR-TO-DATE REGISTRATIONS (OVERALL, TOP 10)

MAY 2015 YEAR-TO-DATE REGISTRATIONS (HEAVY, TOP FIVE)

MAY 2015 YEAR-TO-DATE REGISTRATIONS (MEDIUM, TOP FIVE)

MAY 2015 YEAR-TO-DATE REGISTRATIONS (LIGHT, TOP FIVE)