Total sales still above 2017 though light-duty closer to 2015 levels
Relative to the panic felt in other markets, domestic and global headwinds haven’t completely crimped Australian commercial vehicle sales just yet.
While February’s 2,448 is down nearly 400 on this time last year, it remains some 200 above 2017 levels (2,276), Truck Industry Council (TIC) T-Mark figures show.
The seasonal monthly uplift still remains consistent, with that number well above January’s 1,852.
And, even if year-to-date figures in the past two years had reached 5,000, combined sales after two months sit at 4,300 in 2020, also above 2017’s 4,196.
Market leader Isuzu’s year-to-date total of 1,074 remains close enough to 2018’s peak of 1,189, though it’s a pretty steady drop-off from there, with Hino on 582 after sitting in the 700s the past two years.
The numbers are largely dragged down by the light-duty sector, its numbers falling back to 2015 levels.
HEAVY DUTY
With 777 units sold, February’s heavy duty sector is well behind 2018’s benchmark of 973 but ahead of 2017’s 658.
Recovering from third spot in a sluggish January, Volvo takes the heavy duty crown last month, pipping Kenworth by 16 units (137 to 121), with Isuzu not far behind on 115.
Those three remain in a tight race, with Kenworth leading on 238 for the year, Volvo on 222 and Isuzu on 203.
That trifecta remains down YOY, however, with the only significant improvement on last year being fourth-placed Scania, which continues to swim against the tide.
Its 88 in February takes it to 149 for the year, well above its previous peak in 2019 (72 and 130 respectively), maintaining the Swede’s record momentum.
Truck sales slowdown greater than expected
MEDIUM DUTY
The story remains much the same for medium duty, with February’s 478 sitting above 2017 (465) but below the past two years (546 in 2019 and 589 in 2018).
The battle at the top maintains the trend in the last few years, with leader Isuzu and chaser Hino going neck and neck (and propping up this sector): 186 vs 173 in 2020; 190 vs 174 in 2019; 193 vs 174 in 2018.
Fuso’s 62 sits at the lower end of its usual tally this month, which for the past five years has been between the low 60s and low 80s.
The biggest drop-off comes from MAN, with its 25 units well down from 81 and 66 in the past two years – but above 2017’s paltry figure of three.
UD’s eight units represents a historically low number in February, having peaked in the 40s mid last decade.
LIGHT DUTY
Light duty took the biggest hit, with its total of 746 the lowest since February 2015 (702), well below 2018’s 936 and even 2016’s 799.
The YTD of 1,259 is also less than 2016’s 1,269, after peaking in 2018 at 1,581.
Isuzu, while leading with 305 for the month, was dangerously close to falling below 300 for the first February since 2015 (246).
Hino’s 155 is well down on last year’s 227, but its fortunes have fluctuated in this sector, with its 2017 tally of 150 dropping below Fuso at the time.
The latter, which usually sits between 150 and 180, recorded 134 for the month, also much closer to 2015’s tally (129).
Iveco can claim a small win here, its 66 this month is better YOY, and only bettered in the past five years by 2018’s bumper figure of 83.