Signal month for commercial vehicles only topped in years before GFC impact
The Truck Industry Council (TIC) sees winners in almost every commercial vehicle sales lines for October.
“It was great to see strong sales across all segments in October, with again the light end of the market leading the way,” TIC president Phil Taylor says.
“We still have some way to go, particularly in the Heavy Duty segment, however the overall signs this month were positive.”
In its take of the T-Mark figures TIC gives some historical perspective, saying all truck lines recorded higher figures than the previous month for only the third time this year.
“October 2016 saw a total of almost 3,000 trucks and vans delivered, 2,996 to be exact,” it says.
“This was a solid result for an October, with only the pre-Global Financial Crisis (GFC) October’s of 2005, 2007 and 2008 attaining higher sales.”
TIC underlined that light duty vans (LDV) have rebounded strongly after a patchy early period, up 26.9 per cent, exactly 100 vans more than the same month last year.
More broadly, a total of 472 vans were sold for the month.
The year-to-date tally continues to lag that of 2015, but the gap has now closed to just 39 vans with two months remaining.
Though heavy duty year-to-date totals were lagging against last year, TIC CEO Tony McMullan was pleased both underperforming sectors had come to the party.
“I am pleased to see that all heavy vehicle segments in October outsold the corresponding month of 2015,” McMullan says.
“It was particularly pleasing to see the Heavy end of the market in positive territory, this has not been something we have seen much of this year.
“Year-to-date however it is only the medium and light duty truck segments that are up over 2015 sales.
“Heavy duty truck and van sales continue to lag those of last year, however there is a chance that the Van segment may come home with a wet sail in the remaining two months to eclipse the record result seen last year.”