Healthy sales momentum continues across Australian new truck market

The Truck Industry Council has released its T-Mark new registration data for September, with the 32,235 new trucks and vans registered by the end of the third quarter of 2022 equating to healthy growth of 6.0 per cent over the same period last year.

The month of September saw 3928 new road-registered commercial vehicles hit the Australian fleet, representing growth of 6.6% over the September 2021 tally.

The overarching theme of 2022 continues, with the strongest year-to-date growth at the heavy end of the trucking spectrum, followed by light-duty trucks and then medium-duty trucks, while registrations of new light-duty vans remains in the doldrums.

Here’s a quick rundown of the major categories and the top-five best-selling brands (year to date) for each…

Overall Australian commercial vehicle YTD sales, Q3 2022

Rank, Brand, 2021 YTD, 2022 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 7300, 9642, +32.1
2. Hino, 4689, 4745, +1.2
3. Fuso, 3454, 3604, +4.3
4. Kenworth, 1972, 2141, +8.6
5. Volvo, 1200, 1640, +36.7
Total YTD: 32,235 (+6.0%)

Traditional market leader Isuzu is charging hard, its year-to-date registrations now up an astounding 32.1% over the same time last year, while second-placed Hino is up only slightly (+1.2%) and Fuso rounds out the podium with growth of 4.3%.

Heavy-duty market leader Kenworth is next, its new registrations up a healthy 8.6% year to date, but arch rival Volvo is narrowing the gap – its new registrations are up an incredible 36.7% year to date.

Heavy-Duty Australian truck YTD sales, Q3 2022

Rank, Brand, 2021 YTD, 2022 YTD, % CHG
1. Kenworth, 1972, 2140, +8.5
2. Volvo, 1171, 1611, +37.6
3. Isuzu, 965, 1485, +53.9
4. Scania, 848, 799, -5.8
5. UD Trucks, 399, 742, +86.0
Total YTD: 10,587 (+16.3%)

September saw 1279 new heavy-duty trucks registered, equating with growth of 6.6% over the same month last year, while the year-to-date tally of 10,587 units is up a strong 16.3%.

Kenworth remains on top, its year-to-date registrations now up 8.5% on this time last year, but registrations of new heavy-duty Volvos have surged by 37.6%. Sales of heavy-duty Isuzu trucks have grown even more – the Japanese brand’s tally is up an amazing 53.9%, putting it not too far adrift of Volvo, and in third.

Year-to-date registrations of new heavy-duty Scanias are down (by 5.8%), relegating the Swedish brand to fourth, while sales of UD Trucks are surging – its year-to-date tally is up an astounding 86.0%.

Medium-Duty Australian truck YTD sales, Q3 2022

Rank, Brand, 2021 YTD, 2022 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 2119, 2665, +25.8
2. Hino, 1766, 1804, +2.2
3. Fuso, 1075, 981, -8.7
4. UD Trucks, 120, 139, +15.8
5. IVECO, 77, 103, +33.8
Total YTD: 5896 (+10.0%)

The September total of 673 new medium-duty trucks (up 3.5%) brings the year-to-date total for this segment to 5896, which is up 10.0% over the previous corresponding period.

Isuzu leads, its year-to-date tally of 2665 units up 25.8%, while new registrations of second-placed Hino are up by a more modest 2.2% and third-placed Fuso’s new registrations shrank, its figure down 8.7%.

UD Trucks is powering along nicely in medium-duty too, its total representing growth of 15.8%, while fifth-placed IVECO managed very solid growth of 33.8%.

Light-Duty Australian truck YTD sales, Q3 2022

Rank, Brand, 2021 YTD, 2022 YTD, % CHG
1. Isuzu, 4216, 5492, +30.3
2. Hino, 2477, 2365, -4.5
3. Fuso, 1960, 2045, +4.3
4. IVECO, 681, 596, -12.5
5. Mercedes-Benz, 354, 392, +10.7
Total YTD: 11,805 (+11.9%)

A total of 1479 new light-duty trucks were registered in September, which is up 17.5% on the same month last year. That capped off a year-to-date total of 11,805 units for the segment, which itself is up 11.9% over the first three quarters of 2021.

Isuzu continues its reign on top of the segment and indeed its year-to-date figure is up by 30.3% over the previous corresponding period – no mean feat in a niche with this level of volume. Hino is next, though its year-to-date figure is 4.5% down over this time last year, while Fuso is third, its new registrations up 4.3%.

IVECO lies in fourth, but its tally is down 12.5%, while Mercedes-Benz is in fifth, and has grown its year-to-date total by 10.7%.

Light-Duty Van Australian YTD sales, Q3 2022

Rank, Brand, 2021 YTD, 2022 YTD, % CHG
1. Mercedes-Benz, 2016, 1522, -24.5
2. Renault, 880, 1049, +19.2
3. Volkswagen, 867, 568, -34.5
4. IVECO, 314, 338, +7.6
5. Ford, 948, 318, -66.5
Total YTD: 3947 (-27.0%)

The falls continue in the light-duty van segment, where September’s total of 497 units was 13.7% down on September 2021, bringing the year-to-date total to 3947 – itself down by 27.0%.

Supply issues, particularly for the German and US brands, are ongoing, and indeed Mercedes-Benz – which has dominated this segment for so long – is continuing to lose ground to French rival, Renault. Mercedes-Benz is down 24.5% year to date, while Renault continues to buck the downward trend, instead posting year-to-date growth of 19.2%.

Volkswagen is third, but like ‘Benz is struggling, its year-to-date tally down 34.5% over this time last year, while IVECO lies in fourth, new registrations of its Daily up 7.6%. That leaves Ford in fifth, with new registrations of the Blue Oval’s Transit down by a jaw-dropping 66.5%. 

Source: Trucksales.com.au / The Truck Industry Council