There were indications from around mid-year that 2022 would be a record in terms of truck unit sales, and the December results from the Truck Industry Council (TIC) show those expectations were well founded.
December’s total of 3,562 new cab chassis and prime movers took the Year-To-Date (YTD) accrual to 38,860, an astounding 11.8 per cent increase over 2021 and an 8.9 per cent improvement on the previous record set in 2018. The result is in spite of challenges in component and labour supply which have affected all OEM’s, some more than others.
Isuzu notched up its 34th year in the top position on the truck sales dais, and the 13,360 new Isuzu’s delivered during 2022 represent a market share of 34.4 per cent across all truck categories.
The big investment Heavy Duty sector added 1,481 new units during December, taking the year to date total to 14,966 which is a growth of 15.1 per cent over 2021 (+1,967 units).
Medium Duty added 688 units during December to achieve the total of 7,850 for the year, which is up 6.2 per cent over 2021 (+460 units).
The Light Duty category contributed an additional 1,393 trucks during December to take the total to 16,044 for the year which is 11.8 per cent more than in 2021 (+1,690 units).
The Light Duty Van Segment struggled for most to the year during 2022, when compared to the category’s the record sales achieved in 2021.
By year end 5,519 Vans above 3.5 tonnes GVM were sold in Australia, down a significant 17.1 per cent (-1,142 Vans) from the previous year’s result of 6,661 van sales.
December saw stronger than average 2022 monthly sales for the van segment with 550 vehicles delivered, well up on December 2021 sales by 69.2 per cent (+225 vans). The 2022 fourth quarter result of 1,572 new van sales was up on the 2021 fourth quarter result by 316 vans, or 20.1 per cent, indicating that the supply issues which plagued the sector in early and mid-2022 were easing. Slowing sales in 2022 has seen the Van segment slip to just 12.4 per cent of the total Australian new heavy vehicle market, well down on their market peak of 18.1 per cent share at the end of 2020.
“It was pleasing to see 2022 finish by setting a new all-time sales record for new truck sales in Australia, eclipsing the previous peak set in 2018,” said TIC CEO Tony McMullan.
“It was equally pleasing to see that new truck and van sales broke through the 40,000 mark for just the third time ever, with the final combined figure of 44,379 sales, surpassing industry expectations. Heavy and Light trucks set new, whole of year sales records with both segments showing no signs of slowing growth over the twelve months of 2022.
“If there is a concern to be taken from the numbers in 2022, it is the slowing of sales in the Van segment, highlighting how global unrest/supply chain issues, can significantly impact the Australian market.
“The TIC and our members remain concerned that current heavy vehicle orders taken under the COVID instant asset write-off tax incentive, can be fulfilled in the first half of 2023 due to these ongoing global disruptions. TIC again calls upon the federal government to extend the deliver timeline for this incentive program, for all current heavy vehicle orders.”
In other news, Micway Transport turns to Isuzu for the hardest working trucks in its fleet.