Share

SA car sales dashboard: Local numbers start off slow, but exports start the year on a high

accreditation

Commenting on the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of January 2019 - released today for public consumption via the website of the Department of Trade & Industry - the Association said that domestic new vehicle sales had started the year on a weak note principally due to lower than expected new car sales. 

In the event, aggregate domestic sales at 42 374 units had declined by 3 398 units or 7.4% from the 45 772 vehicles sold in January last year. In contrast, export sales had started the year on a relatively strong note with January 2019 export sales at 18 289 vehicles which reflected a substantial improvement of 4 160 vehicles or a gain of 29.4% compared to the 14 129 vehicles exported in January last year. 

Low growth environment

South Africa had experienced a low growth environment over the past five years and it was generally expected that this would continue until after the general election. Hopefully, according to Naamsa, post-election policy reforms and government’s commitment to revitalise the South African economy with the aim of achieving a substantially higher economic growth rate should translate into improved domestic sales numbers during the second half of 2019.

Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 42 374 vehicles, an estimated 33 633 units or 79.4% represented dealer sales, an estimated 14.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental Industry, 3.5% to government and 2.8% to industry corporate fleets.


The January 2019 new car market had been particularly weak and at 29 040 had registered a fall of 3512 cars or a decline of 10.8% compared to the 32 552 new cars sold in January last year. As had been the case for most of last year, the car rental industry had made a major contribution accounting for 19.9% of new car sales in January 2019 - translating into one in every five new cars sold during the month being a car rental sale.

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles (LCVs), bakkies and mini buses at 11 681 units during January 2019 was virtually unchanged from the 11 679 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.

Sales in the low volume medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry had held up relatively well and at 552 units and 1 101 units, respectively, reflected a gain of 109 vehicles or an improvement of 24.6%, in the case of medium commercial vehicles, and, in the case of heavy trucks and buses, a marginal improvement of three vehicles or a gain of 0.3% compared to the corresponding month last year.

Encouraging exports

The January 2019 export sales number was encouraging, says Naamsa, in view of the fact that a major vehicle exporter had only restarted production at the end of January 2019 to allow for plant refurbishment. Despite this, January 2019 export sales at 18 289 vehicles showed a substantial improvement of 4160 units or a gain of 29.4% compared to the 14 129 vehicles exported in the same month last year.

Naamsa says: “The momentum of vehicle exports over the course of 2019 was expected to increase substantially and industry export sales for the year were, at this stage, projected at around 385 000 units compared to the 351 139 vehicles exported last year. Prospects for domestic new vehicle sales would be affected by the subdued current macro-economic environment and pressure on consumers’ disposable income. The November 2018 0.25% increase in interest rates had impacted on new car demand due to higher vehicle financing costs.”

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE