Despite light-duty shining, year-on-year total figure for month closer to decade average
Commercial vehicle sales for February have retreated to near the levels of past Februaries after spiking last year.
The 2276 total for the month was 246 units down on last February’s 2522 but the first two months’ total is 90 up on the same time last year thanks to a bumper January and is second only to 2013’s start of 4213.
Of manufacturer totals, Isuzu can do no wrong seemingly, with 621 units just shaded by 2010’s 624 as the top amount, while Hino and Fuso held their own, the Truck Industry Council’s T-Mark figures show.
The February heavy duty market looks on a slow-motion rollercoaster through the decade, starting the decade starting at 604, peaking in 2013 at 871, slumping to 638 in 2015 before displaying a minor 671 spike last year and easing to 658 this year.
The segment’s struggles are well-documented and Kenworth’s 124 was better only than 2010 and 2011. However, it retained a lead over Volvo, albeit a shrinking one of 20 units.
Scania had a good month year-on-year, up nearly 400 per cent to 63 after successive Februaries at 22 and 16 and being stuck in the 20s and 30s before that.
The gloss came off Isuzu’s heavy duty challenge, however, down 13 units on last February to 56 and 31 on 2014’s peak.
The segment making the hard yards, however, was light-duty trucks, with a total of 808 a decade record.
Just as the total was poised last year to break into the 800s and top 40 per cent of the segment market, so, this year, Isuzu has put down a marker on perhaps breaking through the 400 mark.
Isuzu now has a decade record of 45.8 per cent after last February’s 39 per cent and surpassing 2010’s 44.5 per cent.
Medium-duty sales for the month were uninspiring and the 465 total seems to indicate getting past 500 units, last done in 2013 and 2010 is too difficult.