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Good news for SA! Rise in local car sales a 'welcome surprise' - Naamsa

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Image: iStock
Image: iStock

"The latest vehicle sales reflected a welcome surprise," reports the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa as more than 36 000 units were sold in April 2019.

Naamsa said: "The declining trend in the new vehicle market since the beginning of the year came to a halt in April 2019."

Domestic sales at 36 794 units showed an improvement of 266 units or 0.7% compared to the 36 528 vehicles sold in April 2018. Export sales had again registered strong growth reflecting a substantial improvement of 11 571 vehicles or a gain of 53.8% compared to the 21 519 vehicles exported in April last year.

Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 36 794 vehicles, an estimated 31 945 units or 86.8%represented dealer sales, an estimated 6.5% represented sales to the vehicle rental Industry, 4.1% to industry corporate fleets and 2.6% to government.

Minor improvement in car sales

The April 2019 new passenger car market registered an improvement of 935 cars or an increase of 3.9% to 24 989 units compared to the 24 054 new cars sold in April 2018. The car rental Industry’s contribution accounted for 8% of new car sales in April 2019.

Smiling woman

LCV market

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses at 9 810 units during April 2019 had recorded a decline of 866 units or a fall of 8.1% from the 10 676 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.

Ford Ranger

                                                                                Image: Ford SA

Exports on the rise

The April 2019 export sales number represented another admirable performance with export sales at 33 090 vehicles reflecting a substantial increase of 11 571 units or a gain of 53.8% compared to the 21 519 vehicles exported in the same month last year. The momentum of vehicle exports over the course of 2019 should increase further and industry export sales for the year could reach close to 400 000 units compared to the record 351 139 vehicles exported last year. 

Naamsa comments on the SA car market

Naamsa said: "Although the ABSA Purchasing Manager’s Index increased slightly, for the first time after three successive months of decline, the PMI remained below the neutral 50-point mark which means that factory conditions stabilised at fairly depressed levels. Demand for domestic new vehicles, particularly the new car market, would continue to remain under pressure in the coming months affected by numerous constraining factors.

"Consumer and business confidence levels are low, household disposable income remains under pressure due to rising costs of living and lower domestic and global economic growth forecasts which continues to signal moderation in new vehicle sales. 

new vehicle sales

"However, constructive political and economic reforms after the country’s general election on 8 May 2019 could see an improved second half performance in terms of new vehicle sales.The upward momentum on the export remains strong and industry vehicle production levels would continue to benefit from strong vehicle export sales."  

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