The Australian truck market remains on track for a new record sales figure in 2023, with the year to date tally to the end of October placing the market almost 3500 trucks ahead of where it was this time last year while also setting a strong sales result for October.
A total of 3940 trucks were sold in October making the tally for the first ten months at 39422, compared with 36034 this time last year, meaning the market will only have to register another 4907 trucks in the next two months to top last year’s record, which given the monthly average this year has been more than 3900, should see the record well and truly broken.
Isuzu had another strong month selling 1102 trucks in October to capture 27.8 per cent share of the overall market to take the number one spot, while Hino had its best month since June with 504 trucks and 12.7 per cent share. The surprise third highest sales figure was not the usual incumbent, Fuso, but heavy duty titan, Kenworth with a massive 343 sales and 8.6 per cent share of the overall sales.
Kenworth’s performance relegated Fuso to fourth in the overall sales charts with 325 sales and 8.2 per cent share, just three units ahead of Volvo, with 322 sales in October and 8.1 per cent share of the overall market.
However, it was the battle for Heavy Duty supremacy that is captivating industry watchers and Kenworth’s bumper month. has edged it further ahead of its rival Volvo after trailing he Swede by 16 units at the end of August. However since then Kenworth has out sold Volvo and was 16 units ahead at the end of September, extending that advantage to 58 units at the end of October. We fear it is going to be almost impossible for Volvo to catch Kenworth at this stage, but stranger things have happened.
Behind the top two contenders fighting out for top billing in Heavy Duty, Isuzu was third with an outstanding 200 heavy registrations, while Scania also had a great month with 159 heavy duty sales, while Mack also had a strong showing with 102 sales, its second best performance ever only bettered by the 168 sales it registered in June this year.
Mercedes tied with UD on 83 units in October ahead of Hino with 64 heavies, Fuso with 58 , DAF 56, MAN on 38, the two Daimler North America siblings Freighltiner and Western Star each with 21 and Iveco with 20.
In Medium Duty Isuzu was again the dominant force taking a 48.2 per cent share of the sector with 314 sales, well ahead of Hino on 204 with 31.9 per cent share of the sector, while Fuso had a relatively poor performance with just 68 trucks and 10.5 per cent share, then came UD with 14, Hyundai with a promising 13 mediums, Volvo with 12, Iveco nine units , MAN with eight, Mercedes and SEA Electric with two each and DAF and Kenworth with one each.
Isuzu led the way in Light Duty with 46.8 per cent share and 588 trucks sold in October, blasting its opponents out of the water , Hino being the next best with 232 sales and 18.3 per cent share, while Fuso wasn’t far behind with 199 Canters in October for 15.7 per cent share. Iveco had a really strong month with 123 sales of its Daily cab chassis trucks, while Fiat was next best with 47 light duty truck sales, Mercedes with 27 Sprinter trucks, Renault with 26 and Hyundai with 18 of its Mightys hitting the road in October.
Foton Mobility only registered four trucks in October after a stellar September, while VW and Ford both registered two Light duties each.
In Vans Mercedes was ahead at the top of the sales charts with 153 Sprinter van sales while Renault was next best with 143 of its Master vans, while VW sold 107 Crafters, Fiat with 46 Ducatos, Iveco with 22 Daily vans and Fro with 21 of its Transits.
There is no doubt the heavy market will be fiercely fought out over the final two months of the year and we probably wouldn’t write off Volvo just yet, only times will tell.
