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March Naamsa numbers 'robust'

Johannesburg - Overall new vehicle sales in South Africa registered modest gains in March, 2012, over the same period a year earlier with new car sales showing strong gains.

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) has reported aggregate sales up by 2552 (4.8%) to 56 110 over the previous March.

Mercedes-Benz SA continues to provide a single total sales number for cars, commercial vehicles and exports. Excluding MBSA, 89% of vehicles were sold by dealers.

ROBUST PERFORMANCE

The government bought 4.9% of vehicles, the vehicle rental industry 3.1%, and industry corporate fleets three percent.

A total of 38 970 cars were sold, up 10.8% on March, 2011.

"First-quarter 2012 new car sales reflected a robust performance and represented the highest quarterly level in five years," Naamsa added.

Car rental industry sales accounted for 3.8% of this total.

EXPORTS SHARPLY DOWN

Commercial vehicle sales showed a decline from 2011: light commercial, bakkie and minibus sales declined by 7.5% to 14 556 units. Sales in the medium and heavy truck segments declined by 2.3% and 2.7% respectively so, for the first quarter of 2012, commercial vehicle sales underperformed the growth in the new car market.

March exports of locally assembled vehicles, including those from MBSA, fell sharply from those of a year earlier – 22 430, a 25.3% decline largely because of a fall in exports by BMW and the recession and debt crisis in the Eurozone, Naamsa explained.

"The industry's export performance during 2012 will remain a function of the direction of the global economy.”

Exports will improve in months to come thanks to Ford and BMW's manufacturing programmes.

LESS-THIRSTY CARS IN FAVOUR

Consumers' improved financial position, relatively low interest rates, continuing vehicle affordability, a competitive trading environment and the introduction of new models, Naamsa added, should all support domestic vehicle sales.

Modest, single digit growth was expected for 2012 overall as higher energy and transport costs would affect potential buyers’ disposable income and record fuel prices would reinforce a trend in favour of more fuel-efficient cars.

"Based on these considerations, domestic sales are expected to continue to reflect growth, but at relatively subdued rates," Naamsa forecast.

MANUFACTURER / VOLUME
TOYOTA  -  10379
VOLKSWAGEN - 9153
GMSA - 6133
NISSAN -  4936
FORD MOTOR COMPANY - 4570
BMW GROUP - 2784
HONDA -  967
JAGUAR LAND ROVER - 889
RENAULT - 865
CHRYSLER - 753
PEUGEOT-CITROEN - 564
TATA -  478
SUZUKI AUTO - 455
FIAT GROUP - 403
MAHINDRA - 401
MITSUBISHI MOTORS - 255
VOLVO CARS     - 246
UD TRUCKS - 220
VOLVO TRUCKS - 209
MAN - 145
SCANIA - 126
PORSCHE - 123
IVECO - 104
SUBARU - 91
CHANGAN SA - 54
NAVISTAR INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS - 52
POWERSTAR - 48
RENAULT TRUCKS - 21
BABCOCK - 11
VDL BUS & COACH SA - 10
MASERATI - 6
AMH & AAD - 7849
MERCEDES - BENZ SA - 2810
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