etruck.com.au

According to the latest figures released by the Truck Industry Council, truck sales are returning to more normal levels after their catastrophic falls earlier in the year. The number of trucks sold in June rose considerably when compared with the previous five months. However, there may be some effect from the Federal Government’s 30% tax allowance on capital purchases, as it ended on June 30th and sales had to go through before that date to qualify.

Many of the year on year indicators are returning to positive territory with van sales 50% up on last year and light duty outselling June 2008 this year. Both heavy duty and medium duty have seen improved positions with heavies less than 5% down on last year with meiumd duty clawing back to 15% less than 2008 from much worse figures earlier in the year. Most brands saw healthy improvements in their numbers over the month of June.

Mack had an excellent June selling 126 trucks just 32 behind market leader Kenworth. This is the closest they have been to top slot for a long time. Freightliner, Iveco, Scania and Hino also had a strong month, all three improving their market share. Even UD, who have a hard year as they go through a major dealership changeover, sold 25 trucks. They have only sold 75 heavies in 2008.

The medium duty market has done it tough this year but are starting to see a chink of light at the end of the tunnel. Isuzu continue to dominate the segment more and more each month but the Europeans are fighting back, all four saw an increase in market share, albeit coming off a very low base.

June was a much more bouyant month for light duty, probably stimulated by the ATO’s tax reak. Hino and Fuso seem to have profited best at the expense of Isuzu’s market share. However, Isuzu do still dominate this segment with close to 38% of sales.

‘What recession?’ seems to be the mood in the van market with sales continuing strongly. Big winners in June were Ford outselling Mercedes Benz at 332 to 196, their best performance in many years.