Net orders for heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles climbed to 7,900 units in February—putting them up 20% from last month and from February ’09, according to ACT Research Co. (ACT). But the firm said that “viewed through a wider lens, the February net orders are still well below normal levels and consistent with expectations.”
In the latest release of its State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles report, ACT said it acknowledges that he comparisons to the prior month and prior year “look impressive, but noted those two months were among the weakest on record.”
ACT noted the “last of the pre-EPA2010 mandate build slots were filled in December” and that medium-duty Class 5-7 net orders “showed similar trends,” posting an increase of 12% from February of last year.
“The implementation of the EPA2010 emission mandate continues to hold down orders in the near term,” said Kenny Vieth, partner & senior analyst with ACT. “Looking at orders by geography confirms this as the non-mandate markets – Mexico and exports – are performing relatively well while Canada and the U.S. continue to be weak.”
