etruck.com.au

The Australian truck market had that morning after feeling in July after the boost to sales at the end of the tax year from the 30% capital investment allowance. After a sharp climb in June the sales figures for July slipped back again, according to the latest truck sales figures released by the Truck Industry Council. The 30% tax incentive had been introduced to boost capital expenditure during the global financial crisis but all purchases had to be made before June 30 to qualify.

Purchasing decisions were clearly pulled forward to take advantage of the tax break giving a sense of false optimism about the gradual resumption of normality in the truck buying market. After major falls at the beginning of the year the cell’s figures had shown a gradual increase month on month from January through to May. However, June had seen a serious blip with good sales figures for most manufacturers. July and appears to be a return to what has become normality in 2009 with overall sales down 28% in heavy duty, 20% in medium duty and 16% in light duty when compared to the same period in 2008. Light duty vans still defy logic of the recession up 25% on last year.

Isuzu still dominate the Australian truck market and even in these difficult times have managed to increase market share over the year. Volvo, Freightliner, Mack and Mercedes-Benz have also grown in market share this year when compared to the same point in 2008. However, both Volvo and Mack had production bottleneck difficulties last year making this year’s figures not so surprising.

In a heavy duty market Kenworth suffered a severe shock in July with sales figures dropping below 100 for the first time in a very very long time. Last July at the peak of the market Kenworth sold 254 units this year they managed just 99 for the month. However, they still hold onto a clear first place in the market with Freightliner coming the closest with 82 units sold. The pressure to get sales in the heavy-duty market has seen Isuzu squeezed by the more traditional heavy duty sellers like Volvo, Freightliner and Mack forcing the Japanese manufacturer to an unfamiliar fifth place in the rankings.

In the medium duty market both Isuzu and Hino continue to predominate but the truck manufacturers in third and fourth place Fuso and UD have something to celebrate. Fuso have seen their market share increase in 2009 as they manage to hold their sales figures at a similar level to 2008. For UD there are signs of recovery from their very tough start to the year with market share inching towards the level attained last year.

The light duty truck market seems to be working steadily out of the recession with second placed Hino actually selling more trucks in July 2009 than they did in July 2008. Number one light duty seller Isuzu managed to have a bumper month in July taking 42.4% of the light-duty market.

As we have seen throughout 2009 the van market remains buoyant with Mercedes-Benz and Ford picking up most of the new sales. Their dominance of this market has shown them increase sales markedly as their four competitors continue to sell vans in similar numbers to 2008.