It’s sounding like a broken record

While sales of vehicles above 3,500kg GVM was down in April compared to March by 560 units, the total sales of 3,613 sales was another record broken by the industry.

The result for April 2023 was an all-time sales record for the month, eclipsing the previous best April mark set in 2022.

Year-to-date sales are also well above all previous results, with 14,071 heavy vehicles deliveries to the end of April, that is 1,948 vehicles more than were sold year-to-date April 2022 (up 16.1 percent), the previous record year. The April result was good the news across all segments, but in particular for the Heavy and Light Truck sectors.

The Heavy Duty Truck segment was up yet again in April with a total of 1,295 units delivered, up 25.0 percent, or 259 trucks, over April 2022. This was a new record for April Heavy truck sales, eclipsing the previous high mark of 1,156 sales set in 2018. The trend is almost as strong year-to-date, with Heavy sales tracking up 21.3 percent over this time in 2022. In unit numbers that is 862 more Heavies sold than this time last year. Total sales thus far in 2023 for the Heavy Duty segment are standing at 4,910 units.

The Medium Duty Truck segment is tracking at about the same level as last year and April saw that trend continue. In April 609 Medium truck sales were recorded, that represents a 0.3 percent decrease (-2 units) over April 2022. The April result keeps the year-to-date 2023 Medium segment sales at 2022 levels to the same point, end of April, down 1.3 percent, or just 26 less Medium truck sales thus far in 2023.

The other “high achiever” in 2023, the Light Duty Truck segment, again posted record sales in April. Light truck sales for the month totaled 1,277 vehicles, a modest rise of 3.1 percent over April 2022, but a new Light Duty Truck sales record for April, surpassing the previous best April result set just last year. In vehicle numbers the gain, April 2022 to 2023, was 38 trucks. Light Duty sales year-to-date are ahead of the same period in 2022 by 16.0 percent, or 715 trucks, with 5,199 “little” trucks delivered year-to-date 2023.

Van sales last year were quite soft due to ongoing supply chain issues, however sales have rebounded somewhat in 2023. Light Duty Vans, those Vans with a GVM over 3500kg, recorded 432 sales for the month of April, up just 2.9 percent, or 12 vans, over April 2022. Year-to-date the story is a much better for the Van segment with the tally standing at 1,755 units, this is up 29.5 percent (400 vans) compared with the same period in 2022. 

Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council, the peak industry body for truck manufacturers and importers in Australia, noted the strong April and year-to-date sales.

“It is encouraging to see another good result in April to follow the solid first quarter figures. It is particularly encouraging to see Heavy and Light Duty Truck segment sales showing such continued strength. We are currently sitting on record sales growth and that is a strong position to be in as we head towards the end of the financial year.” Mr. McMullan concluded.