The traditional strong start to spring in the heavy-duty sector continued again this year with DAF a notable mover up the sales ladder.
Netherlands-based but also manufactured out of the PACCAR plant in Bayswater, Melbourne, DAF put two straight months in the 50s behind it to move an impressive 83 trucks in September.
That total was good enough for sixth place in the sales race, just 13 shy of the fifth slot held by Scania with 96 sales.
Predictably, DAF’s higher-profile Melbourne stablemate Kenworth again held top honours in another bumper month for the big rigs across the board.
Total sales hit 1200 in the sector, that’s 107 units up on August and a new record high for the month, having eclipsed the previous September high of 1196 in 2018.
Kenworths accounted for 22.4 per cent of that tally with 269 sales – down 20 on its August domination – with Volvo contributing the next best portion with its 162 sales, a good month for the Wacol-based manufacturer after a slide to 129 the previous month.
Fourth-placed Mercedes-Benz consolidated above 100 with 118, also marking a rising first financial quarter.
At 96, Scania’s effort to return to three figures fell short by four and by six on July’s total but was up 22 on August.
Overall, Kenworth now holds a commanding lead over Volvo in the year-to-date tally – 1972 vs. 1171 – with most interest now in whether third-placed Isuzu (966) can hold out the fast-charging Mercedes-Benz (911).
In the medium-duty division, Isuzu again came out on top with 301 sales, a better September than in previous buoyant markets, and is now untouchable YTD with a total of 2199.
Hino is next best with 1766 YTD, but had a notable stumble in September with just 154 units sold, its lowest month of the last three, and only two clear of Fuso, which sits a clear third YTD on 1075.
Total commercial vehicles sales for September were 3685, 165 units above August, with YTD on 30,421.