Truck market continues to soften

By Cobey Bartels on 22nd September 2026 News, Trucks Truck Industry Council (TIC)

COMMERCIAL vehicle deliveries dropped below the 3000-unit mark in August for only the second time this year with official Truck Industry Council (TIC) figures recording 2989 new truck and van registrations nationwide.

The result represents a 10.9 per cent drop on July’s 3356 deliveries and a steep 17.8 per cent year-on-year reduction against the 3637 vehicles delivered in August 2025.

Year-to-date volume stands at 25,871 units, down 13.3 per cent on the 29,849 sales logged through the first eight months of last year, as fleet operators grapple with elevated diesel prices and broader economic tightening.A clear divide emerged across market sectors in August, with the heavy-duty segment maintaining relative stability while lighter commercial categories suffered significant volume declines.

Heavy-duty trucks carried total market volume with 1060 deliveries, down a modest 3.5 per cent on July (1099 units) and just 1.9 per cent below August 2025 (1081 units), bringing its year-to-date decline to 7.8 per cent (8609 units).

Conversely, the medium-duty segment continued its long-term backslide, falling 4.7 per cent month-on-month and dropping 25.0 per cent year-on-year to just 404 units. The embattled medium truck market remains down 34.0 per cent year-to-date (3145 units vs 4768) as operators look toward either heavier capacity or light-duty agility.

Light-duty trucks also took a significant hit, losing 13.6 per cent against July and 28.7 per cent year-on-year with 849 registrations across August, bringing its year-to-date tally to 7505 units (down 13.0 per cent).

The heavy van sector (3.5-tonne GVM and above) has lost the momentum it carried into the first half of 2026, registering 676 deliveries in August – a 20.5 per cent monthly decline and an 18.3 per cent year-on-year contraction.

Breaking the numbers down by segment, Kenworth retained its heavy-duty crown with 210 deliveries, holding off a strong charge from Volvo (187 units) and Isuzu (129 units).In the medium-duty segment, Isuzu remained incredibly dominant with 241 sales (a 59.7 per cent segment share) ahead of Fuso (81 units) and Iveco (20 units).

Isuzu also topped the light-duty ladder with 389 sales (45.8 per cent share) over Hino (131) and Fuso (116), as the company heads towards a 38th year as the top-selling light truck brand with its N Series lineup.

In the overall brand standings across all categories, market leader Isuzu recorded 759 total sales, maintaining its mantle despite a 25.2 per cent year-on-year drop.

Mercedes-Benz claimed second spot outright with 335 deliveries, driven largely by sales of its Sprinter van, while Fuso (245 units) narrowly beat Hino (211 units) to round out the podium.