Truck sales momentum builds

New truck and commercial vehicle registration data for the month of March is in, with the Truck Industry Council’s T-Mark data showing another solid month that has delivered pleasing progress across all the major truck segments, and record overall sales first the first quarter of the year.

A total of 3797 new trucks and vans were registered in March, adding to a year-to-date total of 8817 vehicles. The figures equate with growth of 6.7 per cent for the month over March 2021, and growth of 5.9% year to date over the previous corresponding period. 

Across the major categories, the heavy-duty segment is leading the charge, with its year-to-date tally of 3012 units some 23.6% up on the same time last year. The medium- and light-duty truck segments are also growing, while the light-duty van segment hasn’t enjoyed such a rosy start to the year. Three months in, that segment has contracted by a significant 35.7%, thanks in no small part to supply issues.

Here’s a breakdown of the top five brands, by segment and the number of new registrations. 

Overall 

Traditional market leader Isuzu remains on top of the overall leader board with 2450 vehicles new vehicles registered over the first three months of the year, which is growth of 20.5% over the previous corresponding period. The brand is followed by Hino with 1405 units – growth of 6.0% – and Fuso, whose 1111 new registrations represents growth of 20.1%. 

Kenworth is next, its 648 registrations equaling strong growth of 30.4%, with the top five rounded out by Volvo. The Swedish brand has recorded 455 new registrations over the first three months of the year, which is a hefty expansion of 40.0% over the same period last year. 

Related reading:
Slow start to Euro truck sales
Truck sales build in February
January sales leap off the blocks

Heavy-duty truck 

It's all go in the heavy-duty segment, with the 1245 new trucks registered in March representing growth of 20.3% over the same month last year, and the year-to-date tally of 3012 units up 23.6% over the same corresponding period. 

Kenworth retains its usual top slot with a total of 647 units to the end of March, up 30.2% from last year. But Japanese rival Isuzu has put in an exceptionally strong showing at the heavy end of the market, its 490 new registrations year to date equating with stratospheric growth of 67.8%. 

On the bottom step of the podium is Volvo, with 447 units year to date – impressive growth of 42.4% nonetheless – followed by sibling brands Mack (200 units, growth of 68.1%), and UD Trucks (179 units, growth of 79.0%). After a somewhat subdued start to the year for Volvo Group Australia (Volvo, Mack, and UD), it seems clear a lot more product came through the supply line in March, bolstering its figures across all three brands. 

Medium-duty truck 

Progress was more subdued, but progress all the same, in the medium-duty truck segment. The March total of 686 new vehicles was up 14.0% over March 2021, while the year-to-date total of 1651 trucks was up 12.9% over the same period last year. 

Isuzu leads the segment with a year-to-date tally of 753 units, which is strong growth of 31.3% when compared to the first three months of last year. Next lies Hino, its tally of 510 representing a slight contraction of 0.8%, followed by Fuso with 296 units – that's growth of 10.9%. 

IVECO is sitting in fourth with 26 new registrations for the first three months of the year, a sharp fall of 29.7%, while UD Trucks is fifth, its 22 units representing a fall of 12.0%. 

Light-duty truck 

At the lighter end of the scale, the 1428 new light-duty truck registrations equated with growth of 16.0%, adding to a three-month total of 3219 units – that’s 8.4% up on this time last year. 

Isuzu tops the ladder with 1207 units (and growth of 3.3%), followed by Hino (761 units, up 10.8%), Fuso (686 units, up 22.7%), IVECO (210 units, up 23.5%), and FIAT (158 units, up 23.4%). 

Light-duty van 

The light-duty van segment is off to a shaky start in 2022, its March total of 438 new registrations down 36.5% over the same month last year, and its year-to-date tally of 935 units down 35.7%. 

Mercedes-Benz retains its steely grip on the segment with 359 new registration year to date, but that figure is down 12.2% from this time last year. Renault, however, is bucking the downwards trend, its 206 new registrations year to date up 33.8%. 

That’s a far different story to the remainder of the top five, however. Volkswagen lies in third, its year-to-date tally of 131 units representing a drop of 53.4%, while Ford, with 118 units, has dropped by an astounding 71.5%. 

That leaves FIAT to round out the top five, its 64 new registrations also representing a fall of 43.4%. 

Emerging trends? 

While the overall progress over the first three months of 2022 is promising, it seems the only sure theme affecting vehicle sales and nations the world over right now is one of volatility. 

Yes, unemployment here is the lowest it’s been in well over a decade and there are many signs the Australian economy is rebounding strongly from the mire of COVID-19, but with a Federal election looming, ongoing product supply issues, labour shortages, and the spectre of rising inflation, at this juncture the path ahead is anything but clear cut.

“The first three months of 2022 have brought record new truck sales in Australia,” said Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council.

“Sales in each of the truck segments are ahead of those at this time last year and this is pleasing to witness. I am happy to see that the heavy-duty segment continues to lead the market’s sales growth at the end of March.

“This level of sales growth across all truck segments will likely stem the aging of our truck fleet. However more needs to be done to ensure that the significant level of safety, environmental and productivity features available in newer trucks permeates through our nation’s fleet. In this regard the federal government’s inaction in implementing ADR80/04, Euro VI and alternatives, is disappointing.”