Volkswagen Group South Africa looks set to end 2012 as the market leader of the passenger car market in South Africa. To date, Volkswagen Group South Africa has sold 91 843 units (Volkswagen passenger – 76 291 and Audi – 15 552).
In November 2012, Volkswagen Group South Africa delivered a total of 8 300 units to its customers and achieved a market share of 22.6% in the passenger car market.
Polo Vivo (2 697 units) and Polo (2 376 units) were the top two selling cars in the local passenger car market.
Audi achieved its eight consecutive record month with the delivery of 1 540 units to customers. During November, Audi also surpassed its record annual sales (15 552 units). The previous record was 14 531 units. The A4 Sedan/Avant was the top selling model with 447 units.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles sold 756 units in the light and medium commercial segments. Amarok single and double cab models were the best sellers with 422 units.
In November 2012, 36 686 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa. The market declined by 11.9% when compared to the October 2012 sales. It however, grew by 10.9% when compared to November 2011. From January to November 2012, the market is at 11.6% level above the same period for 2011.
“Despite the month-on-month decline in November, the new car market continues to perform well in circumstances where economic growth is faltering. Recently released data for growth in gross domestic product reflects third quarter growth of only 1.2 percent having been significantly affected by the widespread and ongoing strike action that characterized the period. The data also reflected weak manufacturing performance for the third quarter and the latest PMI data for South Africa, with the index stuck below 50, suggests that manufacturing will continue to make a low contribution to gross domestic product in the final quarter of the year,” said Mike Glendinning, Director: Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa.
“With the new car market continuing to be supported by declining real new vehicle prices, a highly competitive trading environment, low interest rates boosting affordability, ongoing supportive replacement demand and new model introductions, it is now likely that the 2012 new car market will end up around 11.5% up on 2011,” concluded Glendinning.
