Truck sales inch closer to a new all-time record

October again saw solid new heavy vehicle sales in Australia and with just November and December to run, the truck industry is well on the way to breaking the previous all-time sales record set in 2018, when 41,628 new trucks and heavy vans were sold.

In fact, with current sales holding strong due to full order books at most truck OEMs, the sales tally by year end 2022 should be around the 43,000 mark.

Isuzu Australia has already claimed its all-time sales record with two months to run and other OEMs are also reporting strong results in the run-up to year’s end.

Sales in quarter three were very strong with 11,348 deliveries – a new third quarter record and just shy of the quarter two result of 12,070 vehicles, which itself was a record second-quarter result.

Total sales for October were 3799, a very slight fall over the October 2021 result when 3805 heavy vehicles were delivered.

However, year-to-date heavy vehicle sales are tracking 5.8 per cent higher than over the same time last year, highlighting that sales are on track for a record year. The heavy and light truck market segments were up over October 2021 results, while medium trucks posted a slight loss and light-duty van again posted notable losses over the corresponding month last year.

Heavy-duty truck sales were solid in October with the segment posting deliveries of 1379 units, up 5.0 per cent, or 66 trucks, on October 2021.

Year to date the result is much stronger, with the segment tracking a very healthy 14.9 per cent ahead of this time last year. In terms of actual truck numbers, the sales gap now sits at 1549 more heavy trucks sold year to date 2022 than to the end of October 2021.

Medium-duty truck sales in October were down over the same month in 2021. A total of 570 medium trucks were sold in October, 38 less than October 2021 (down 6.3 per cent).

However, over the 10 months of 2022 thus far, the medium-duty truck segment is up a healthy 8.3 per cent over last year. A total of 6466 trucks were delivered to the end of October 2022 compared to 5968 medium truck sales this time last year, equating with a gain of 498 units.

The light-duty truck segment remains the second strongest growth segment in 2022 after that of heavy trucks and was the best-performing segment this October. All told, 1410 light trucks were delivered for the month, up 8.2 per cent (107 trucks) compared with October last year.

To the end of October, 13,215 small trucks have been sold year to date, representing an increase of 1360 sales over the sales tally to the end of October 2021 (up 11.5 per cent for the year).

Light-duty van sales have been the weakest-performing heavy vehicle segment in 2022 with year-to-date sales well down over 2021 results.

October sales were again significantly down on those recorded for the same month in 2021, at 24.3 per cent down for the month.

Total van sales for October were just 440 vehicles, which was 141 fewer vans sold compared with October 2021. Year to date the result is even worse, with sales down 26.7 per cent compared to 2021.

A total of 4387 vans have been delivered this year, which 1599 less than to the end of October 2021.

Related reading:
Heavy trucks lead sales growth
Isuzu sales records tumble, but how?
Half-year truck sales charge ahead

Commenting on the month’s sales, the Chief Executive Officer of TIC, Tony McMullan, said: “It was great to see strong heavy- and light-duty truck sales in October, whilst the medium segment was just down on the sales mark set in October 2021.

“Unfortunately, van sales remain weak in 2022 and October saw that trend continue. Although we witnessed a slowing of sales in two segments in October, the overall sales outlook was again positive in October and the overall results for 2022 remain strong.

“With just two months remaining in the year, we are inching ever closer to a new all-time sales record for heavy vehicle sales in Australia.”