The truck sale boom continued in April with heavy-duty sales in particular leading the way.
April truck sales totalled 2,757 for the month, 157 units less than the outstanding figures for March but well ahead of the April 2017 results and for preceding Aprils for the last couple of years, which tend to trend down after strong results in the first quarter.
So far in 2018 there have been 10,003 trucks and vans moved which is 2,048 or 25.7 per cent up on the first four months of 2017.
The infrastructure boom again contributed to the strength of the Heavy Duty segment which saw 1,156 registered in April, up 406 or 54 per cent on the same period last year and line ball with March 2018 (just 18 units less). So far this year the Heavies are a staggering 1,192 units or 41.6 per cent ahead of the first quarter last year with 4059 sales so far in 2018.
Medium Duty was also up, registering a 19.7 per cent or 111 unit improvement on April 2017 with 674 new trucks moved and so far year to date there have been 2,442 trucks registered which is 201 or 25.8 per cent more than for the same period in 2017.
Light Duty was not left out of the bonanza up 114 units or 14 per cent for the month with sales of 927 units which sees the segment 11.3 per cent or 355 units ahead of light duty sales for the first four months in 2017 with 3,147 units registered till the end of April.
The Van sector was line ball with April 2017 result with 394 units sold last month just three ahead of last year but year to date sales of 1,823 units is 103 units or 6 per cent up on last year.
Isuzu topped the charts again as it has done for almost 30 years moving 749 trucks for the month an improvement of 16.3 per cent over the same month last year while its closest rival Hino also had a big month posting a 22.6 per cent improvement and moving 418 trucks for the month.
Mercedes Benz new Actros models really made some ground with the Tristar posting a 110.7 per cent improvement on this time last year selling 1218 trucks, while its German rivals MAN also had another big month on the back of the Australian Defence Force contract it continues to service registering 114 trucks a 165.1 per cent lift on its April 2017 result. Kenworth also had a tremendous month moving 250 trucks a 90.8 per cent lift on the same month in 2017.
Improvements occurred all over the industry with Fuso up 24.7 per cent, Volvo up 59.5 per cent, Scania with 69 units up 68.1 per cent, DAF with 46 units up 64.1 per cent, Mack up 16.2 per cent with 79 sales, Iveco up 15.4 per cent with 142 units, and Freightliner up 44.1 per cent with 36 sales. While most brands were winners with sales improvements there were some losers including Western Star which was down 2.8 per cent with just 35 units, Dennis Eagle down 91.3 per cent with just two units and International, which continues to bump along the bottom of the sales charts with two units registered while Hyundai Commercial again under performed with just four units for the month.
