Canadian Big-Truck Sales Dip In January

Medium- and heavy-duty truck sales in Canada fell 3.6% in January vs. year-ago, as two of five classes posted double-digit declines.

Class 8 slipped 11.1% due to large losses for more than half the manufacturers in the group. Freightliner (-5.3%) and Western Star (-28.9%) brought parent company Daimler down 10.8% on 637 deliveries. Mack and Volvo saw large drops of 47.2% and 66.7%, respectively. PACCAR increased 22.9% on 354 units due to a large 48.9% gain for Kenworth. International also had a good month, rising 19.8% on 248 units.

Medium-duty sales rose 11.4% in January, impacted by climbs of 21.9% and 42.3% in Classes 5 and 4, respectively.

Class 7 increased to 228 units, an 8.6% lift from year-ago. PACCAR’s Kenworth brand posted a 52.6% gain. International saw growth of 34.0% on 63 deliveries. Ford and Freightliner didn’t have as good of a month, dropping 57.1% and 14.0%, respectively.

Class 6 was the worst performing group in January, sinking 31.3% on 90 units. Ford had the largest growth in the group, increasing 33.3% but on low volume. Hino also posted a gain, increasing 17.1% on 48 deliveries. Freightliner (-32.4%) and International (-72.0%) went down in sales.

Class 5 sales rose 21.9%, due to positive performances by Ford (39.9%), Hino (10.2%) and Isuzu (23.8%). International posted the only decline in Class 5, down 62.5%. FCA increased slightly to 73 units, a 2.8% gain.

Class 4 sales growth led all groups, as deliveries for the segment jumped 42.3%. Isuzu led the way with an increase of 180.0% on sales of their domestic line and 71.4% on imports. Ford and Hino also performed well, rising 29.3% and 42.9%, respectively.

[email protected]