Strong commercial vehicle sales continue

The Australian commercial vehicle market experienced yet another month of growth in September, with the latest Truck Industry Council (TIC) T-Mark data revealing a total of 3506 new trucks and vans were sold for the month, the figure up 6.1 per cent from the same month last year.

The year-to-date tally is now at 30,665 units – that's strong year-on-year growth of 16.5%

In overall figures it's traditional market leader Isuzu leading the way, with total year-to-date sales of 7263 units equating with growth of 11.3%. While that's a solid figure in itself, it's nearly half of the growth experienced by Isuzu's two arch rivals, Hino and Fuso.

The first 10 brands by year-to-date tallies are all sitting on double-digit growth. Of the major brands only Scania experienced a contraction, down 3.8% on the previous corresponding period, admittedly off the back of consistently strong performance over the last few years.

Of the major blocks of manufacturers represented in Australia, in the overall year-to-date figures it's Daimler (Mercedes-Benz/Freightliner/Fuso) on top, with 4929 units, ahead of Volvo Group (Volvo/Mack/UD Trucks) on 3153, PACCAR (Kenworth/DAF) on 2443, Iveco (Iveco/International) on 1395 and Penske Commercial Vehicles (MAN/Wester Star/Dennis Eagle) on 1226.

Overall Australian commercial vehicle YTD sales, 2018 (Jan-Sep)

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 6526, 7263, +11.3
2. Hino, 3456, 4136, +19.7
3. Fuso, 2644, 3166, +10.3
4. Kenworth, 1497, 2085, +39.3
5. Volvo, 1290, 1614, +25.1
6. Mercedes-Benz, 1106, 1435, +29.7
7. Iveco, 1084, 1360, +25.5
8. MAN, 629, 903, +43.6
9. Mack, 722, 801, +10.9
10. UD Trucks, 655, 738, +12.7
11. Scania, 688, 662, -3.8
12. Fiat, 441, 456, +3.4
13. DAF, 303, 358, +18.2
14. Freightliner, 324, 328, +1.2
15. Western Star, 260, 271, +4.2

The heavy-duty segment is, after languishing for years post-GFC, firing on all cylinders. Sales totalled 1196 units for the month of September, up 5.0% from September 2017, contributing to a year-to-date total of 10,361 units – that's impressive year-on-year growth of 25.4%.

As in the overall figures, every brand in the top 10 (by year-to-date sales) experienced double-digit growth bar Scania, which is down by 4.8%.

Kenworth leads the way in heavy-duty sales from Volvo and Isuzu, with all three brands up significantly.

In the major blocks, Volvo Group leads with 2772 sales year-to-date, ahead of PACCAR (2419), Daimler (1566), Penske (689) and Iveco (460).

Australian heavy-duty YTD sales, 2018 (Jan-Sep)

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Kenworth, 1497, 2085, +39.3
2. Volvo, 1267, 1581, +24.8
3. Isuzu, 949, 1342, +41.4
4. Mercedes-Benz, 572, 825, +44.2
5. Mack, 722, 801, +10.9
6. Scania, 687, 659, -4.8
7. Hino, 275, 438, +59.3
8. Iveco, 381, 425, +11.5
9. Fuso, 256, 414, +61.7
10. UD Trucks, 274, 390, +42.3
11. MAN, 379, 367, -3.2
12. DAF, 284, 334, +17.6
13. Freightliner, 324, 327, +0.9
14. Western Star, 260, 271, +4.2
15. Dennis Eagle, 96, 51, -46.9
16. International, 0, 35, N/A
17. Cat, 39, 16, -59.0 

The medium-duty market experienced a slight contraction for the month of September, its tally of 655 units equating to a drop of 1.7%, but it's still up appreciably in year-to-date figures.

Some 6086 new medium-duty vehicles have been sold this year to the end of September, which is 15.9% up on the same period last year.

Isuzu remains well clear of competitors Hino and Fuso in this category, in a segment where most brands are experiencing strong year-on-year growth, bar UD Trucks (down 8.7%).

Australian medium-duty YTD sales, 2018 (Jan-Sep)

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 2138, 2423, +13.3
2. Hino, 1567, 1624, +3.6
3. Fuso, 742, 912, +22.9
4. MAN, 250, 536, +114.4
5. UD Trucks, 381, 348, -8.7
6. Iveco, 71, 107, +50.7
7. Mercedes-Benz, 52, 74, +42.3
8. Volvo, 23, 33, +43.5
9. Scania, 1, 3, +200.0

The light-duty segment continues to prosper, with sales of 1184 new vehicles in September equating with growth of 17.0% over the same month last year. The year-to-date tally is now at 9554 units – that's up 13.0% on this time last year.

Isuzu continues its domination of the light-duty segment but its sales have only increased marginally so far this year – rivals Hino and Fuso have both narrowed the (admittedly appreciable) gap.

Australian light-duty YTD sales, 2018 (Jan-Sep)

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 3439, 3498, +1.7
2. Hino, 1614, 2074, +28.5
3. Fuso, 1646, 1840, +11.8
4. Iveco, 632, 828, +31.0
5. Mercedes-Benz, 482, 536, +11.2
6. Fiat, 441, 456, +3.4
7. Renault, 76, 192, +152.6
8. Hyundai, 18, 64, +255.6
9. Ford, 89, 64, -28.9

Apart from the medium-duty segment, light-duty vans was the only other category to experience a drop for September, the 471 sales registered representing a contraction of 3.3%.

The class is up in year-to-date figure, however, with 4664 units equating with growth of 7.3%.

Australian light-duty van YTD sales, 2018 (Jan-Sep)

Rank, Brand, 2017 YTD, 2018 YTD, % CHG
1. Mercedes-Benz, 1709, 1992, +7.3
2. Renault, 1142, 993, -13.0
3. Ford, 573, 589, +2.8
4. Volkswagen, 343, 442, +28.9
5. Fiat, 328, 380, +15.9
6. Iveco, 253, 268, +5.9

Related reading:
Aussie truck sales charge on
Sales records tumble for June and first quarter
2018 sees record first-quarter sales

The Chief Executive Officer of TIC, Tony McMullan, was upbeat about the latest figures.

"Another solid quarter for the heavy and light truck segments, while sales in the medium-duty truck segment remain strong year-to-date despite slowing a little in quarter three," he said.

"At the three-quarter mark of the year van sales are up over the same point in 2017, but not to the same degree as we see in the truck segments. With just three months to go until year end, the industry is still on track hit a new market peak, though with signs that the market is slowing, that may not be the 40,000-plus mark that many were predicting at the halfway point of the year."