In amplification of the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of September 2011 – released today by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) – the Association commented that sales in all segments had registered surprisingly strong gains on the corresponding month last year. September, 2011 aggregate industry domestic sales had improved by 12 539 units or 30.0% to reach 54 364 vehicles from 41 825 vehicles sold during September last year. Sales during the corresponding month last year had been severely depressed by stock shortages as a result of industrial action throughout the Industry at the time. Total year to date domestic sales in calendar 2011 remained 16.2% ahead of the corresponding nine months in 2010. September 2011 export sales at 25 933 vehicles had registered an improvement of 13 399 units or 106.9% compared to the strike-affected total of 12 534 export units in September last year.
Total Domestic Vehicle Sales by Manufacturer for September 2011:
- TOYOTA – 10 171
- VOLKSWAGEN GROUP SA – 9 382
- GMSA – 7 011
- FMC – 4 971
- NISSAN – 3 833
- MERCEDES-BENZ SA – 3 233
- BMW GROUP – 2 324
- RENAULT – 1 087
- CHRYSLER SA – 695
- HONDA – 675
- PCSA – 508
- JAGUAR LAND ROVER – 436
- SUZUKI AUTO – 387
- TATA – 386
- FIAT GROUP – 351
- UD TRUCKS – 328
- VOLVO CARS – 304
- MITSUBISHI MOTORS SA – 229
- MAN – 210
- MAHINDRA – 155
- SCANIA – 120
- NAVISTAR INTERNATIONAL – 94
- SUBARU – 90
- IVECO – 88
- CHANA – 87
- VOLVO TRUCKS – 85
- PORSCHE – 59
- RENAULT TRUCKS – 27
- BABCOCK – 26
- POWERSTAR – 20
- MASERATI – 9
- VDL BUS & COACH SA – 3
- SUB TOTAL – 47 384
- AMH & AAD – 6 980
- INDUSTRY TOTAL – 54 634
Overall, out of total September 2011 industry reported sales of 54 364 vehicles, 77.8% or 42 279 units represented dealer sales, 15.9% represented sales to the car rental industry, 3.5% sales to government and 2.8% represented industry corporate fleet sales.
Total new car sales during September 2011 at 37 832 units reflected an improvement of 7 851 new cars or an increase of 26.2% compared to the 29 981 new cars sold during September 2010. The latest sales figures reflected a sharp improvement in the growth momentum in the new car sales cycle. The September 2011 new car market had again received support from strong demand by car rental companies with the car rental industry accounting for 21.4% of total new car sales. In the event, more than one out of every five new cars sold during September, 2011 represented a purchase by the car rental Industry.
The strength of the new car market in September, 2011 could be attributed to a number of factors, including, ongoing improvement in the financial position of consumers on the back of relatively low interest rates, further improvement in vehicle affordability in real terms and the positive influence of aggressive marketing and sales incentive programmes during the month. In addition, consumers would have been encouraged to bring forward planned purchases in light of the risk of future price increases as a result of the recent substantial depreciation in the Rand exchange rate.
Sales of industry new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses had exceeded expectations and at 14 006 units during September, 2011 reflected an increase of 4 109 units or a gain of 41.5% compared to the 9 897 units sold in the corresponding month last year. For the first nine months of 2011, new light commercial vehicle sales were ahead by 10.9% compared to the corresponding period last year.
Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the industry at 854 units and 1 672 units, respectively, had recorded an increase of 237 units or 38.4% in the case of medium commercial vehicles, and a gain of 342 units or 25.7%, in the case of heavy trucks and buses, compared to the corresponding month last year. Total year to date sales of medium, heavy commercials and buses remained 24.6% ahead of the corresponding nine months of last year.
Exports of South African produced motor vehicles during September 2011 at 25 933 units reflected an increase of 13 399 vehicles or 106.9% compared to the depressed base of 12 534 units exported during September last year when industry production for exports had been negatively affected by industrial action at the time.
The latest sales figures had exceeded Industry expectations and were cause for optimism. The new car market for 2011 was likely to show an improvement of about 15%, in volume terms, on the 2010 figures. Additional consumer interest was expected as a result of numerous new model launches at the Johannesburg International Motor Show to be held at Expo Centre, Nasrec, from 6th through 16th October, 2011. Over the medium term, domestic sales were expected to continue to register growth, but probably at a more subdued rate. The direction of the global economy remained uncertain and international financial markets were characterised by extreme volatility and turbulence. This could impact on future export sales, however, at this stage, there were no indications of cut-backs in export orders.
