After chasing early pacemaker Volvo for much of 2020, perennial heavy duty king-pin Kenworth is back on top in the 2020 sales races.
In the latest figures released by the Truck Industry Council this week, Kenworth recorded an encouraging 230 sales for October, just four shy of its total for the same month in 2019, and a 22.7% share of the sector.
That brings its total units sold for the year to 1546, and 84 clear of Volvo, which recorded 143 sales for October to take its 2020 tally to 1462.
Fast-charging Mercedes-Benz was next best in October’s heavy duty segment with 127 sales, although it still sits fifth overall on 715 units, but right on the heels of fourth-placed Scania with 718 (90 sales in October).
Isuzu is alone in third spot with 1050 year-to-date heavy duty sales, but of course, again leads the overall charts, thanks to its medium and light duty sector dominance.
Isuzu took almost half the market share in the medium duty division with 253 units sold, with Hino chasing next with 159 followed by Fuso with 84.
This trio accounts for 92.6 per cent of the 536 units shifted in this segment for October.
Better than expected numbers in the medium and light duty markets – no doubt buoyed by the demand for more ‘last-mile’ deliveries during the pandemic – means a reasonably healthy sales result overall for the month.
Across the board, October was only down 2.3% on the same month last year, and arrests some dramatic dips in August (20.7%) and September (9.8%).