In 2023 sales of new heavy commercial vehicles broke the record set in 2022. Not just broke it; smashed by 9.3% according to data from VFACTS. In 2022 the sales by segment followed the script with Light Duty trucks and vans leading the way. However in 2023 the growth for that segment (according to VFACTS data) was only 6.2% while Heavy Duty truck sales grew by 17.4%.
Light Duty trucks and vans have dominated the sales charts in recent years as last minute deliveries increased with the popularity of online shopping. Overall in 2023, they were 50.3% of heavy commercials deliveries.
The highlight in 2023 was the Heavy Duty truck segment that gained some momentum to increase by 17.4%. Fan favourite Kenworth was battling it out with Volvo for the top spot. Both brands are locally manufactured (Kenworth in Melbourne and Volvo in Brisbane) and both had stellar increases in 2023.
At the end of the year the scorer recorded Kenworth with 3,655 deliveries (21.7% increase) and Volvo just behind with 3,479 deliveries (36.9% increase). We think it was a bit close to comfort for the crew at Kenworth who has dominated the Heavy Duty segments for decades.
Even with two record years of new truck and van sales, the Australian truck fleet remains older than in other countries which impacts road safety and hinders efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from road transport.
The Chief Executive Officer of TIC, the peak industry body for truck manufacturers and importers into Australia, Tony McMullan, said: “Despite these record new truck sales, the Truck industry Council (TIC) and our members, remain concerned that the average age of the Australian truck fleet appears to remain much older than that of Europe and North America.”
“An old truck fleet is not conducive to improved safety, public health and environmental outcomes for our society. Moving into 2024, we must consider what more can be done by both industry and particularly government, to reduce the age of our nation’s truck fleet.” Mr McMullan concluded.
