May 2022 class 8 truck sales

[james j neiweem]

Per Transport Topics: All truck makers but two increased sales in May compared with a year earlier.

Volvo Trucks North America climbed the most, up 80.2% to 2,546 and a 12.3% share in May.

“The total market came back a little stronger than expected in May. Volvo Trucks North America had a good month,” said Magnus Koeck, vice president of strategy at VTNA. “We look forward to a strong June but anticipate continuing labor and material shortages throughout the supply chain.”

International, a brand of Navistar Inc.,(aka Volkswagon) grew 22.9% to 2,799 and a 13.5% share.

Paccar Inc.’s Peterbilt Motors Co. brand climbed 15.1% to 3,375 and a 16.3% share.

“April and May have been pretty good months for our factories. I think we have a better supply of components than we maybe anticipated five or six weeks ago,” said Paccar Chief Financial Officer Harrie Schippers. “That’s across the board, so in the U.S. and Europe we have been able to increase build rates, as we hoped for.”

Western Star rose 14.3% to 511 and a 2.5% share.

Market leader Freightliner climbed 9.8% to 7,307 and a 35.3% share.

Western Star and Freightliner are brands of Daimler Truck North America.

There was a flip side: Mack Trucks dropped 11.2% to 1,372 and a 6.6% share.

Mack and VTNA are brands of Volvo Group.

“Mack, like all truck makers, has been impacted in various ways by global supply chain constraints, which has affected deliveries from Mack and body companies,” said Jonathan Randall, senior vice president of sales and commercial operations at Mack Trucks. “We’re doing all we can to deliver trucks to our customers as quickly as possible. Our backlog remains strong and demand remains high.”

Kenworth Truck Co., also a Paccar brand, fell 4% to 2,803 and a 13.5% share.

Looking toward truck sales to come, Michael Dozier, senior vice president at Paccar Inc., said for new state emissions regulations set to launch in 2024 in California the truck maker has a very mature program to sell progressively more zero-emission trucks in the state (including 75% of Classes 4-8 straight trucks and 40% of truck tractor by 2035, and 100% of heavy-duty sleepers by 2040.