The boom continues with record April truck sales reported by the Truck Industry Council. Strong demand, especially in the heavy duty sector of the Australian truck market. The strong demand has seen the the result for April 2018 was an all-time sales record for the month, eclipsing the previous best April mark set back in 2008, just before Australia was hit by the effects of the Global Financial Crisis.
Year-to-date sales are also above all previous results, with 11,826 heavy vehicles deliveries to the end of April, that is 483 vehicles more than were sold year-to-date April 2008, the previous record year.
The Australian truck and heavy van market, all vehicles above 3,500kg GVM, for the month of April finished with a total of 3,151 sales. This was down approximately 300 units on the previous month of March 2018, however up a significant 634 vehicles, 25.2 per cent, over April last year.
At the heavy end of the market trucks sales continued to rise with a total of 1,156 units delivered, a 54.1 per cent, or 406 trucks, increase on April 2017. Year-to-date, sales in the heavy duty segment are standing at 4,059 units.
A number of the truck brands are achieving large numbers of sales as the numbers continue to stay high. Kenworth achieved another great result, selling 250 trucks in April. Volvo, Isuzu and Mercedes Benz all managed to sell over 100 trucks in the month. Four manufacturers all getting over. a century in one month has been a rarity in the past, but is beginning to become a regular event.
The lighter end of the truck market is going well but not displaying the kind of record figures of the heavies. Isuzu’s domination of the medium duty segment continues with the Japanese brand hitting over 40 per cent of the market in April.