New vehicle sales takes an upturn in October in SA

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) welcomed the uptick in new vehicle sales during October 2019. The car rental industry continued to provide substantial support to new vehicle sales volumes during the month. 

Reflecting on the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of October 2019, Naamsa confirmed that aggregate domestic new vehicle sales, at 51 978 units, reflected a marginal increase of 122 units or 0.2% from the 51 856 vehicles sold in October last year.  

Overall, according to Naamsa’s official figures, out of the total reported industry sales of 51 978 vehicles, an estimated 38 558 units or 74.2% represented dealer sales, an estimated 20.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, 3.7% to industry corporate fleets, and 1.8% to government. 

Small increases

The October 2019 new passenger car market increased by 860 cars or 2.5% to 35 904 units compared to the 35 044 new cars sold in October last year. The car rental industry continued to support domestic volumes, accounting for a significant 28.2% of new cars sales in October 2019. 

                                                           Image: iStock

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini-buses at 13 366 units during October 2019 had recorded a decline of 833 units or a fall of 5.9% from the 14 199 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year. 

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Sales in the medium and heavy truck segments of the industry reflected an improved performance and at 839 units and 1 869 units, respectively, reflected an increase of 63 vehicles or a gain of 8.1%, in the case of medium commercial vehicles, and, in the case of heavy trucks and buses, an improvement of 32 units, or an increase of 1.7% compared to the corresponding month last year. 

The October 2019 export sales number at 41 277 vehicles reflected a strong increase of 7 152 units, or 21.0%, compared to the 34 125 vehicles exported in the same month last year. For the first ten months of the year, vehicle exports, at 338 955 units, are now at their third highest level on record with still two months to go for the year and well on track to achieve another record in 2019.