The TIC T-Mark sales figures for July have again underlined the Australian commercial vehicle market is set for an all-time record, save for a disaster of epic proportions, with sales for the seventh month and for the year to date indicating an ongoing boom market.
A total of 3494 heavy vehicles were sold in July making the year to date tally of 24381. Those figures put the result close to 200 sales ahead of July last year and 150 up on the result for July in the record year of 2018 . The year to date tally is 1067 ahead of what it was in 2018 and with almost ever truck maker reporting full order books through into 2023 and beyond, a new record is a certainty.
Isuzu returned another stunning result , leading the market with 1090 sales for the month, capturing 29.3 per cent of the market. The Isuzu result wasn’t as impressive as the 1521 it sold in June, but was 334 units ahead of its tally in July last year and 252 ahead of the same month in 2018. Its year to date tally of 7133 puts the market leader on track to top 12000 for the year, and possibly go close to selling more than 13000 for the year, which if it happens, will top its previous best by close to 3000 trucks.
Hino was second but again showed signs of supply issues registering 467 trucks in July for 15.8 per cent market share, almost half the number it sold last month. However Hino will be on track for a record year as well with its year to date total at 3841, 716 ahead of where it was in 2018 and 174 ahead of the total for the first seven months of last year.
Fuso was also affected by supply with a tally of 388 sales in July to be third with 11.1 per cent share.
Kenworth was number on in heavy duty and was fourth overall with 209 sales in July, with Volvo fifth on 152 sales, Mercedes next on 132, Scania seventh on 100 sales, UD eighth on 87, Iveco ninth on 77 and Mack rounding out the ten on 57 sales.
Kenworth’s 209 was a dip on its June result but still strong enough to open the gap again on its heavy rival Volvo, which registered 149 heavy duty models (along with three mediums). It would take a herculean effort to overtake Kenworth in the remaining five months, with the Paccar brand’s YTD tally for heavies now standing at 1629 units, 459 ahead of Volvo so far this year.
Isuzu was next best in Heavy, with 129 sales, while Scania’s 100 made it the only other brand to break three figures.
Mercedes was fifth in heavies with 87 sales, while its fellow Daimler brands Fuso (68 heavy duty) and Freightliner (53) put all three Daimler brands in the top ten.
UD with 71 was sixth in the sector and Mack, with its 57 in ninth, put all three Volvo bands in the top ten as well. Hino’s new 700 continues to push its heavy credentials finishing the month with 63 sales to be eighth in the heavy sector.
Medium duty was another whitewash for Isuzu with 256 sales and 43.2 per cent share of the sector, well clear of rival Hino on 172 and 29 per cent share, while Fuso was third on 117 and 19.7 percent for the month. UD was fourth with 16 medium duties, while Hyundai’s medium duty models put the Korean brand in fifth place in the medium sector with seven sales, equal with DAF.
Light duty was where Isuzu really pulled some numbers, moving 709 units for July, giving it a whopping 51.6 share of the sector. The enormity of the performance was underlined by the fact that second placed Hino finished the month with 232 sales and 16.8 percent share in light duty, a massive 479 behind Isuzu, and perilously close to perpetual third place getter Fuso, which sold 203 trucks.
Between them the three Japanese brands held 83.2 per cent of the light sector with Iveco next best with its Daily based truck chassis selling 51 for the month, ahead of fellow Euro brands Mercedes with 48 Sprinters, Renault with 46 sales and Fiat with 41.
Hyundai edged up again in July moving 33 of its Mighty light duty trucks.
In Vans Benz was back on top with 181 Sprinter sales in July, 63 ahead of Renault’s 118 sales, while VW was third with 74 Crafter sales.
Strap yourselves in the last five months of 2022 are set to be a wild ride for the Australian heavy vehicle market and one that is going to be fascinating to watch.
