kscarbel2 Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 Steve Brooks, Australasian Transport News (ATN) / October 14, 2016 Aussie-built trucks lead heavy-duty market but Isuzu still the stand-out performer Judging by sales figures to the end of September, 2016 certainly won’t be remembered as a boom time for truck makers. However, the good news is that the two biggest players in the premium heavy-duty category – Kenworth and Volvo – continue to manufacture or at least assemble their trucks in Australia. What influence the ‘Aussie made’ factor has on customers’ buying decisions and actual sales volumes is difficult to quantify. Yet it’s perhaps fair to assume that with Kenworth entrenched at number one in the heavy-duty contest and Volvo an increasingly close number two (with Brisbane-built corporate cohort Mack at number four), local engineering plays a significant role in tailoring trucks to Australian conditions and subsequently meeting the distinctive requirements of this market’s truck buyers. Kenworth and Volvo are not, of course, the only brands putting trucks together in this country. Iveco continues to make and assemble a number of models led by the home-grown ACCO. Of course, ACCO’s numbers are not what they once were and with Iveco holding just 5.1 per cent of the heavy-duty market up to the end of September, the brand’s performance is well short of inspiring. Nonetheless, the sales of all locally built or assembled models from Kenworth, Volvo and Mack, and Iveco, amount to as much as 50 per cent of all the heavy-duty trucks sold in Australia. Still, as the Truck Industry Council (TIC) recently commented, the heavy-duty sector continues to struggle for sales while down the weight scale, light and medium-duty markets are notching solid results. According to TIC, the 2016 heavy-duty market "… is lagging 2015 results by 3.8 per cent with only 6947 heavy-duty trucks sold in Australia to the end of September this year". Meanwhile, the total market for trucks is actually tracking up 2.4 per cent over the same period last year. At the end of September Kenworth’s place at the head of the heavy-duty pack stood at a formidable 20.7 per cent with Volvo in second spot on a healthy 16.2 per cent. Volvo Group Australia also stacks up best in the contest for corporate supremacy with its three brands – Volvo, Mack and UD – holding a collective 26.3 per cent of the heavy-duty contest to the end of September with the Paccar pairing of Kenworth and DAF on 23.6 per cent. However, the big achiever in the heavy-duty stakes is third placegetter and overall market leader Isuzu. Along with its powerful 43.1 per cent leadership of the light-duty market and 38 per cent domination of the medium-duty sector, Isuzu up to the end of September also held a respectable 13.8 per cent of the heavy-duty category. From there it’s a quick slide into single figures with Mack on 8.6 per cent, then a congested scrap for minor placings: Scania on 6.4 per cent, Freightliner 6.2, Iveco 5.1, Mercedes-Benz 4.5, Fuso 4.1, Western Star 3.8, Hino 3.0, DAF 2.9, MAN 2.1, UD 1.5, and Cat and Dennis Eagle with just 0.7 and 0.3 percent respectively. Yet despite all the attraction and emphasis of the heavy-duty truck business, it’s the smaller end where the Australian market remains strongest and where Japanese brands continue to hold absolute domination. The Top Three Sales Results for the 3rd Quarter 2016 HEAVY-DUTY Kenworth 1,439 units - 20.7% Volvo 1,125 units - 16.2% Isuzu 958 units - 13.8% Mack 8.6% Scania 6.4% Freightliner 6.2% Iveco (includes ACCO) 5.1% Mercedes-Benz 4.5% Mitsubishi Fuso 4.1% Western Star 3.8% Hino 3.0% DAF 2.9% MAN 2.1% UD (Nissan Diesel) 1.5% Caterpillar 0.7% Dennis Eagle (refuse) 0.3% MEDIUM-DUTY Isuzu 2220 units – 43.1% Hino 1497 units – 29.0% Fuso 766 units - 14.9% LIGHT-DUTY Isuzu 2967 units – 38.0% Fuso 1592 units – 20.4% Hino 1555 units – 19.9% . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 At one time, Mack was the number one brand in Australia, by a mile. Later, Kenworth came and made itself a competitor to be reckoned with. Fast forward to the present, as in the US market, the Mack brand in Australia is languishing while the Volvo brand is pushed ahead. Gothenberg's priorities and end game are clear by its actions. For heaven sakes, you have Isuzu outselling Mack in Class 8. That is damning to the marque. US Market Ranking Australian Market Ranking Volvo 5 2 Mack 6 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Well, the only surprise there is Volvo at 16.2 %. The reason I say that is, I can't recall even seeing a new Volvo let alone 16.2% of heavy trucks being Volvo, I wonder if Volvo are not all trucks, as they sell a lot of buses out here. I see plenty of Mack Tridents on B-double line haul work up and down the east coast of QLD, but for the life of me I can't recall seeing any Volvos. I obviously need to get off the farm more. Isuzu is no surprise at all. They aren't cheap but they are really well made and last for ever. Now that seems to be a winning combination Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmyb Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 So what is the local content of all these "locally" built trucks? I mean, does Volvo just import a chassis, a cab and put it together here or is there a fair bit more? I know Mack here in Aus has their own unique models, designed and built here. An Aussie-built Mack is totally different to a US built one. Same goes for Kenworth. So is the term "locally built" a bit of a stretch to describe the Volvo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 On 10/17/2016 at 2:43 AM, mrsmackpaul said: Well, the only surprise there is Volvo at 16.2 %. The reason I say that is, I can't recall even seeing a new Volvo let alone 16.2% of heavy trucks being Volvo, I wonder if Volvo are not all trucks, as they sell a lot of buses out here. I see plenty of Mack Tridents on B-double line haul work up and down the east coast of QLD, but for the life of me I can't recall seeing any Volvos. I obviously need to get off the farm more. Isuzu is no surprise at all. They aren't cheap but they are really well made and last for ever. Now that seems to be a winning combination Paul Paul, because Volvo mixes the sales performance of Africa and Oceania together, which is ridiculous, they don't reveal the sales numbers for Australia (hidden on purpose). While its fair to say 99.9% of the Mack brand trucks were sold in Australia and New Zealand, an unknown number of Volvo brand trucks could have been sold in Africa. Volvo Group promotes the Volvo brand in Africa, rather than Mack (There are a "handful" of Macks in Africa, via U.S. exporters). Clearly, as in Africa, Volvo Group is promoting the Volvo brand over Mack in Australia. Sad, given that Mack used to be the number one heavy truck brand in Australia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Q3 2016, sales (deliveries) from Volvo Group’s truck operations amounted to 41,155* units, down 13 percent from 47,338 units in Q3 2015, and down 22 percent from 52,670 units in Q2 2016. Volvo brand truck sales (overall) fell to 22,353 units globally, down 12 percent from 25,495 units in Q3 2015, and down 21 percent from 28,255 units in Q2 2016. Volvo brand truck sales in North America plunged to 4,645 units, down 49 percent from 9,147 units in Q3 2015, and down 32 percent from 6,786 units in Q2 2016. Volvo brand truck sales in Europe rose to 11,585 units, up 23 percent from 9,389 units in Q3 2015, but down 20 percent from 14,430 units in Q2 2016. Volvo brand truck sales in Africa/Oceania (includes Australia, New Zealand) rose to 1,216 units, nearly unchanged from 1,210 units in Q3 2015, but down 17.5 percent from 1,454 units in Q2 2016. Mack brand truck sales (overall) plunged to 3,963 units globally, down 40 percent from 6,623 units in Q3 2015, and down 30 percent from 5,588 units in Q2 2016. Mack brand truck sales in North America plunged to 3,581 units, down 41 percent from 6,105 units in Q3 2015, and down 68 percent from 5,192 units in Q2 2016. Mack brand truck sales in South America plunged to 146 units, down 49 percent from 287 units in Q3 2015, and down 7 percent from 157 units in Q2 2016. Mack brand truck sales in Africa/Oceania (includes Australia, New Zealand) rose to 236 units, up 8 percent from 218 units in Q3 2015, but down 0.8 percent from 238 units in Q2 2016. Renault Truck brand sales (overall) fell to 9,920 units globally, down 5 percent from 10,495 units in Q3 2015, and down 27.3 percent from 13,650 units in Q2 2016 Renault Truck brand sales in Europe fell to 8,925 units, down 1 percent from 9,019 units in Q3 2015, and down 27.5 percent from 12,304 units in Q2 2016 UD (Nissan Diesel) brand sales (overall) rose to 4,919 units, up 4 percent from 4,725 units in Q3 2015, but down 5 percent from 5,177 units in Q2 2016. UD (Nissan Diesel) brand sales in Asia rose to 4,022 units, up 11 percent from 3,611 units in Q3 2015, but down 3 percent from 4,147 units in Q2 2016. Total Global Deliveries by Brand Q3 2016 Q3 2015 % Change Volvo 22,353 25,495 -12 Renault Trucks 9,920 10,495 -5 UD (Nissan Diesel) 4,919 4,725 4 Mack 3,963 6,623 -40 Total Deliveries 41,155 47,338 -13 Total Global Deliveries by Truck Size Q3 2016 Q3 2015 % Change Heavy Duty (>16 metric tons) 34,255 40,831 -16 Medium Duty (7-16 metric tons) 3,328 3,204 4 Light Duty (<7 metric tons) 3,572 3,303 8 Total Deliveries 41,155 47,338 -13 Total Global Deliveries by Region Q3 2016 Q3 2015 % Change Europe 20,510 18,408 11 North America 8,309 15,329 -46 South America 2,413 3,060 -21 Asia 6,923 7,173 -3 Africa & Oceania* 3,000 3,368 -11 Total Deliveries 41,155 47,338 -13 * includes Australia, New Zealand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Well I have been well behaved and let off the farm three times this week and when I went to Townsville all three times I only saw one heavy type Volvo as in semi or B double this was a B double saw a MAN and plenty of KW and Macks I think Volvo may be a tad bit misleading with their figures I know there is a lot of new Volvo buses around but not many trucks or maybe I havent strayed far enough in this wide brown land Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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