Cape Town – A number of factors, including price increases, exchange rate weakness and vehicle production inflation resulted in a substantial drop in vehicle sales during August, reports Naamsa.
Domestic sales of industry new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses at 13 542 units during August, 2016 had held up relatively well and only reflected a decline of 140 units or a fall of 1.0% compared to the 13 682 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month in 2015.
READ: SA new vehicle sales - Best-selling locally built cars, bakkies
Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry at 759 units and 1 489 units, respectively, reflected a mixed picture and, in the case of medium commercial vehicles, had registered a decline of 123 units or 13.9% and, whilst, in the case of heavy trucks and buses, a marginal decline of 9 vehicles or a fall of 0.6% compared to the corresponding month last year.
Naamsa said: "For the year and into 2017, new vehicle exports should contribute positively to South Africa’s current account of the balance of payments reinforced by lower vehicle imports on the back of declines in the domestic market."
Overall, Toyota's Hilux continues to reign as SA's bakkie king with 3081 units sold in August. followed by Ford's Ranger (2237) and the Isuzu KB (1424) in second and third respectively.
In 2016, South Africa celebrates 120 years since the first car arrived in the country.
Ten top-selling bakkies
1 Toyota Hilux - 3081 units
2 Ford Ranger - 2237
3 Isuzu KB - 1424
4 Nissan NP200 - 1270
5 Chevrolet Ute - 884
6 Nissan Hardbody - 871
7 Volkswagen Amarok - 590
8 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Up - 307
9 Mazda BT-50 - 77
10 Mahindra Bolero - 71
Ten top-selling bakkies: August 2016
1 Toyota Hilux - 3081 units
2 Ford Ranger - 2237
3 Isuzu KB - 1424
4 Nissan NP200 - 1270
5 Chevrolet Ute - 884
6 Nissan Hardbody - 871
7 Volkswagen Amarok - 590
8 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Up - 307
9 Mazda BT-50 - 77
10 Mahindra Bolero - 71