The latest TIC T-Mark data shows a total of 1614 new trucks and light commercial vehicles were registered in the month of January 2015, the number representing a seven per cent drop from the corresponding month last year.
Market leader Isuzu has a 24.8 per cent slice of the outright market with 401 units, while second-placed Hino has a 12.3 per cent share (198 units) and Fuso has a 10.8 per cent share (175 units). Kenworth follows with a 7.7 per cent share (124 units) while Volvo sits in fifth place, with a 3.8 per cent share (62 units).
HEAVY DUTY
Some 518 heavy-duty trucks were registered in January – a drop of 12.9 per cent compared to January 2014.
Kenworth is off to a flying start in the heavy-duty segment, its 124 units represent growth of 12.7 per cent, as is second-placed Isuzu – its 82 sales are 24.2 per cent up on last year. Volvo is third with 62 units – 15.1 per cent down on last year – while Western Star is fourth with 50 units (down 16.7 per cent).
That leaves Freightliner in fifth, with 35 units – a solid 40 per cent increase over January last year.
MEDIUM DUTY
The medium-duty segment essentially held steady in January 2015, with 336 units versus 334 for the same month last year.
Isuzu tops the table with 148 units (up 11.3 per cent), followed by Hino (79 units, down 6.0 per cent), Fuso (63 units, up 5.0 per cent), UD (26 units, down 23.5 per cent), and Iveco (nine units, down 11.1 per cent).
LIGHT DUTY
The light-duty segment took a substantial hit in January, with 448 units as opposed to 535 in January 2014. That's a drop of 16.3 per cent.
Isuzu leads with 171 units (a drop of 15.8 per cent), followed by Hino (104 units, down 23.5 per cent), Fuso (100 units, up 29.9 per cent), Mercedes-Benz (28 units, up 21.7 per cent) and Fiat (15 units, down 62.5 per cent).
VANS
The van market continues to power along, with 312 new vehicles registered in January compared to 271 for the previous corresponding period – growth of 15.1 per cent.
Mercedes-Benz leads with 130 units (down 17.2 per cent), followed by Ford (57 units, up 78.1 per cent), Fiat (45 units, up 60.7 per cent), Volkswagen (43 units, up 186.7 per cent) and Renault (25 units, down 16.7 per cent).
Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council, said the January figures were cause for concern.
"I would be lying if I said that the January 2015 truck sales results were anything but disappointing," he said.
"We saw some solid results in the latter part of 2014, particularly in quarter four, but these have not carried forward into 2015. Australia's freight task continues to grow year on year and unless new truck sales grow year on year at a greater rate, Australia's truck park gets older.
"That is exactly the situation we are currently facing, with the Truck Industry Council expecting the average age of trucks to exceed 14 years in the next year or two.
"TIC’s member companies are offering some of the most technically advanced, environmentally friendly and safe trucks available, but take up by operators is slow.
"This reality cannot be ignored by those within government charged with developing road transport and infrastructure policy. Incentives that encourage operator uptake of newer, safer and more productive vehicles are long overdue."
