New T-Mark data released by the Truck Industry Council has shown Australia’s heavy vehicle market has continued to go from strength-to-strength, as it recorded a third-straight year of record truck sales across the country.
51,277 units were sold across the country in data released on January 3, 2025, an increase of 3520 units – or 7.4 per cent – over the previously record-breaking 2023 mark of 47,757.
The 7.4 per cent increase was bolstered by the decision for LDV and Peugeot to share data with the Truck Industry Council for the first time in 2024, however excluding the extra 3010 additional sales registered by the two new brands, 2024 would still have been a record-breaking year.
Significant continued growth in the van sale market laid the foundation for the overall growth in heavy vehicle sales across Australia, as the heavy duty and light duty truck segments saw sales reductions when compared to 2023.
Truck Industry Council CEO Tony McMullan says the strong overall sales are a great result considering challenges the heavy vehicle industry has faced this year.
“It was pleasing to see truck sales hold up well in 2024 and van sales strengthen to record levels. This despite challenging economic conditions throughout 2024 in Australia. It was equally pleasing to see a new annual new truck and van sales record that exceed the 50,000 mark for the first time ever,” McMullan says.
“The 2024 result of 51,277 sales has surpassed industry expectations, particularly given the mentioned economic headwinds. While these record sales numbers in 2024 were set with the inclusion of a couple of van brands who had not previously shared their sales data with TIC, 2024 was a record year for heavy vehicle sales even if these brands were not included.”
A 21.2 per cent year-on-year decrease December sales for 2024 saw a total of 17,152 heavy duty trucks sold for the year – a 2.4 per cent decrease in overall sales.
The segment endured a difficult final quarter of 2024, with just 4295 trucks sold in the period, a 12.6 per cent decrease when compared to Q4 2023.
There were 10 per cent fewer light duty trucks sold in Australia when compared to a near-record 2023 mark, with 14,558 trucks delivered last year.
Medium duty trucks saw minor year-on-year growth when compared to 2023 despite a slight slowing of sales in December.
The total of 8132 medium duty trucks sold across Australia in 2024 marked a 1.6 per cent increase on 2023’s sales numbers, however the TIC has attributed the historically lower numbers to the long-term shift away from medium duty trucks around Australia.
In 2024 medium duty trucks accounted for just under 16 per cent of all heavy vehicle sales in Australia, while they accounted for over 30 per cent of all heavy vehicle sales in its peak year back in 2001.
McMullan adds while the overall sales numbers are pleasing, they have come in the face of a strengthening issue being faced by the Australian trucking sector as a whole.
“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 remains much older than that of Europe and North America,” McMullan continues.
“An old truck fleet is not conducive to improved safety, public health and environmental outcomes for our society.
“Moving into an election year in 2025, we must consider what more can be done by both industry and particularly government, to reduce the age of our nation’s truck fleet.”
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