Enduring sector leader Kenworth was the biggest heavy-duty contributor to another exceptional month of truck sales in Australia.
According to the recently-released Truck Industry Council (TIC) numbers, 215 Kenworths found new homes in April, bringing the badge’s year-to-date (YTD) tally to 862, which represents 21.3 per cent of the market.
Despite the absence of an interstate prime mover in its stable, Isuzu again took second spot in the category, moving 144 units for the month, six clear of third-placed Volvo.
Isuzu now has a YTD total of 634 ‘heavies’, 49 more than Volvo.
The chasers were headed by Scania with 77 sales in April, just clear of a large cluster of brands including UD Trucks (72), Hino (64), Fuso (61), Mercedes-Benz (52) and Mack (46).
In all, there were 1036 sales in the heavy-duty sector for April, which is 107 (11.5 per cent) more than were moved in the same month last year, and just shy of the all-time April record of 1156 heavy vehicles sold in April 2018.
The trend is even stronger on the YTD numbers, with heavy sales tracking up 20.3 per cent over this time in 2021.
In unit numbers that is 682 more heavies sold than this time last year. Total sales thus far in 2022 for the segment are standing at 4048 units, that is just 11 fewer than the tally to the end of April in 2018, the all-time record.
Overall, it was a record month of truck and van sales in Australia with a total of 3306, 91 more than the previous best April mark, set last year.
YTD sales are also above all previous results, with 12,123 heavy vehicles deliveries to the end of April, that is 297 vehicles more than were sold YTD April 2018, the previous record year.
The medium-duty segment more than held up its end, also posting solid sales in 2022 and April saw that trend continue.
In April 632 medium truck sales were recorded, that represents a 12.1 per cent (68 units) gain over April 2021.
The April result keeps the year-to-date medium segment sales comfortably ahead of the same period last year, up by 12.7 per cent, or 257 trucks. YTD 2283 medium trucks have been sold in 2022.
Light-duty truck sales have also spiked in 2022, with Isuzu again taking charge at the top. April sales totalled 1218 vehicles, a rise of 9.4 per cent over April 2021, in vehicle numbers that was a gain of 105 trucks.
The tally was also an all-time April sales record, surpassing the previous best of 1113 set last year.
Light-duty sales YTD are ahead of the same period in 2021 by 8.6 per cent, or 353 trucks, that makes a total of 4437 lights sold to the end of April 2022.
By comparison to the truck segments, van sales in 2022 have been down considerably over recent year performances. That trend continued in April with just 420 sales for the month of April, down a significant 31.0 per cent, -189 vans, over April 2021.
Tony McMullan, CEO of TIC, the peak industry body for truck manufacturers and importers in Australia, said it is encouraging to see another good result in April to follow the solid first quarter figures.
“It is particularly encouraging to see truck sales showing such continued strength, however van sales are down significantly year-to-date and are showing no immediate signs of improving.
“Whilst we are currently sitting on record sales growth in the truck segments and I hope that continues throughout 2022, I am mindful of government’s need to temper inflation. The recent interest rate rise by the Reserve Bank is a reminder that ongoing fiscal policy decisions may have some effect on new vehicle sales moving forward.”