In COVID-19 times, July’s new truck market was positive – maintaining similar registrations to the previous month.

Then again, that “new normal” was still well down on the market at the same point last year: July’s 380 registrations in the overall truck market were 20% down on the same month last year.

Worse, it brought the year-to-date registration total to 2247 – fully 27% down on the 3096 sales at the same point last year.

Similarly, the 133 trailer registrations amounted to 17 more than in June….but the 683 registrations to the end of July were still almost 25% down on the 910 at the same point last year.

In the overall truck market (4.5 tonnes to maximum GVM), July saw longtime No. 1 Isuzu (542/101) again extend its lead, with an impressive 101 registrations. FUSO (332/48), Hino (291/55) and Volvo (167/13) held their positions, in order behind. The top eight positions were unchanged, although Scania (162/34) did close right up on Volvo – but remained fifth, ahead of Iveco (150/24), Mercedes-Benz (109/12) and Kenworth (93/10).

DAF (87/25) had a good month to go ahead of UD (80/12), for ninth.

In the 3.5-4.5t GVM crossover segment, Fiat (149/27) extended its lead, while Mercedes-Benz (55/6) easily held onto second, ahead of Chevrolet (26/5), Renault (20/4) and Ford (16/1).

In the 4.5-7.5t GVM division, Isuzu (162/35) overtook FUSO (151/13) for the top spot. Iveco (79/16) and Hino (58/10) held third and fourth respectively, while Foton (31/9) overtook Mercedes-Benz (26/2) for fifth.

In the 7.5-15t GVM class, Isuzu (244/49) rocketed further ahead of its rivals – alone claiming more than half of the year’s sales to date in the segment. Hino (75/11) and FUSO (73/11) continued to fight over second place, well ahead of Iveco (24/5). Foton (12/6) doubled its registrations to jump ahead of UD (6/0).

In the 15-20.5t GVM category, Hino (62/14) increased its lead, while FUSO (23/6) retained second, ahead of UD (17/1), Mercedes-Benz (12/2), Scania (10/1) and Iveco (6/0).

In the tiny 20.5-23t GVM division, Hino (14/1) increased its lead on FUSO (5/1), with Isuzu (2/1) the only other brand to register a unit in the category in July.

In the premier 23t to max GVM division, Volvo (167/13) held onto the No. 1 spot, although Scandinavian rival Scania (151/33) closed in. Isuzu (129/16) and Kenworth (93/10) held onto third and fourth respectively, but immediately behind them Hino (82/19) and DAF (81/25) improved – both relegating FUSO (80/17), albeit narrowly.

DAF’s improvement also came at the cost of Mercedes-Benz (68/8), which dropped a place to eighth. UD (57/11) and Iveco (41/3) completed the top 10.

Trailer market leader Patchell (76/14) extended its 2020 lead on second-placed Fruehauf (61/10), but Domett (58/17) was best for the month – improving to third (and closing in on Fruehauf), ahead of Roadmaster (54/11) and MTE (51/5).

The rest of the top 10 held their order, with TMC (40/7) sixth, followed by Transport Trailers (33/6), Freighter (30/3), Transfleet (25/3) and TES (21/3).