New commercial vehicle registrations were down significantly year-on-year in October while used commercials were up slightly.
Total registrations of new trucks and buses over 3500kg GVM sits at 434 units for October. This is down 24.7% compared to the same period the year prior which saw 576 registrations of new commercials for the month.
Total registrations of used trucks and buses over 3500kg GVM sits at 227 units for October. This is up 7.1% compared to the same period the year prior which saw 212 units registered.
The October result continues the same trend the previous month in September which also saw new commercials down (19%) while used commercial were up (18.4%).
In the year to date, a total of 4047 new trucks and buses over 3500kg GVM have hit the road, down 24.1% from 5334 in the same period the year prior.
Meanwhile, a total of 1575 used trucks and buses over 3500kg GVM have hit the road in the year to date, down 17% from 1898 in the same period a year prior.
Isuzu is market leader for new commercials in October with 83 units registered and a 19.1% market share. It was down 32% compared to the 122 units registered in the same period the year prior.
Hino is in second spot for the month, up 1.8% with 58 new units registered and a 13.4% market share.
Fuso is third, down 21.9% with 50 new units registered and an 11.5% market share.
Mercedes-Benz follows, down 31.1% with 42 units registered, Fiat up 30.8% (34), Iveco down 20.5% (31), Scania down 23.5% (26), UD Trucks down 18.2% (18), MAN down 16.7% (15) and DAF down 20% (12).
Isuzu was also market leader for used commercial brands in October with 56 registered units and a 24.7% market share. This was up 19.1% compared to the same period the year prior which saw 47 used registered units for the brand.
Toyota is in second spot, up 8.9% with 49 registered units and a 21.6% market share.
Hino is third, up 40.6% with 45 registered units and a 19.8% market share.
Mitsubishi follows, up 64.3% with 23 units, Nissan down 40.7% (16), Mercedes-Benz down 28.6% (5), Iveco up 100% (4), DAF and UD Trucks both unchanged with three units each and Fiat down 60% (2).
Foley Trucks director Thomas Church says his company saw a spike in used truck sales in October, while November is also looking strong.
He says there is “still a lot of uncertainty” in the market around “not knowing what next year will bring”.
He reckons more customers are choosing a used truck over a new truck right now as a cost saving measure.
The last few months have seen a lot of new customers with new start-ups and people diversifying their business.
Imports from Japan have also been steady in the used truck market, Church says.
One factor in favour of steady used imports was the sector didn’t have to deal with factory shutdowns like the new truck market, he says.
