Mack third-quarter deliveries increase 6 percent

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The Morning Call / October 26, 2015

Mack Trucks has delivered more vehicles this year than last, and the heavy-duty truck manufacturer's third-quarter results did not slow that upward trend.

Mack delivered 6,623 trucks worldwide, up 6 percent from the 6,244 delivered in the third quarter last year, according to a report released Friday by the Sweden-based Volvo Group, Mack's parent company.

Of that, 6,105 — or 92 percent of the worldwide total — were delivered in North America, up about 6 percent compared with last year. Mack also sent more trucks to South America, where deliveries increased from 182 to 287.

Mack's third-quarter deliveries in North America represent almost 40 percent of Volvo Group's truck deliveries there. By comparison, Volvo Trucks delivered 9,147, nearly 60 percent of the total in North America during the third quarter.

All Mack trucks built for the North American market are assembled at the company's Lower Macungie Township plant. The facility has approximately 1,870 employees.

While deliveries were up in the third quarter, the total net order intake in North America decreased 40 percent for Volvo Group compared with a year ago. While Volvo orders were down 30 percent, Mack orders declined 51 percent.

In the report, Volvo said the "decline is an effect of dealers focusing on reducing their inventories and the comparison with a good quarter last year."

Despite the decline in orders, Volvo said the retail activity at North American dealerships remained solid in the third quarter due to a "good freight environment and customer profitability." Volvo said it expects the total North American retail market for heavy-duty trucks to approach 310,000 trucks in 2015.

In 2016, Volvo said it expects lower demand, forecast at about 280,000 trucks.

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Deliveries rose 6% in the 3rd quarter, but orders plummeted 51%.

Mack brand 3rd quarter deliveries in North America represented less-than 40% of Volvo's truck deliveries there.

The Volvo brand continues to extend its sales lead over the Mack brand and deliver the majority of trucks.