Johannesburg - The recent fuel price reductions have yet to get South Africans tripping each other up through the showroom doors as January's overall new vehicle sales showed a slight decline over the same month last year.
A total of 52 306 vehicles were sold during 2015's first month, 1.2 percent fewer than in January last year. 81.9 percent of those sales took place through dealers, while 11.3 percent went to the rental industry, 4.0 percent to corporate fleets and 2.8 percent to government.
If we split up the segments we actually see some good news as light commercial vehicles saw a 6.0 percent year-on-year gain, while passenger vehicles took a 3.6 percent dive.
Export sales were most encouraging, making a 20.7 percent gain over January last year, although the Mercedes-Benz C-Class model changeover likely contributed to lower exports at the beginning of 2014. Stronger international demand is also a factor here and Naamsa predicts that this year will see exports rising 15 percent to a record of around 320 000 vehicles.
Naamsa also expects domestic sales to gain some momentum this year, thanks to lower inflation on the back of reduced fuel prices and expected economic growth, although the Eskom power supply situation remains an ominous wild card.
TOP COMPANIES
1. Toyota - 11 191
2. Volkswagen - 8342
3. Ford - 5672
4. AMH & AAD - 5269
5. Nissan - 4443
6. General Motors - 4367
7. BMW - 2531
8. Mercedes-Benz - 2185
9. Renault - 1314
10. Honda - 1144
TOP 100 - REPORTED SALES*
1. Volkswagen Polo Vivo - 3002
2. Toyota Hilux - 2605
3. Toyota Corolla/Quest/Auris - 2464
4. Ford Ranger - 2365
5. Volkswagen Polo - 2153
6. Toyota Etios - 1820
7. Nissan NP200 - 1254
8. Toyota Quantum - 1222
9. Ford Ecosport - 1218
10. Chevrolet Utility - 1162
11. Isuzu KB - 1161
12. Nissan NP300 Hardbody - 890
13. BMW 3 Series - 822
14. Ford Figo - 778
15. Toyota Fortuner - 721
16. Chevrolet Spark - 655
17. Ford Fiesta - 651
18. Datsun Go - 604
19. Honda Brio - 593
20. Volkswagen Golf - 585
21. Toyota Rav4 - 546
22. Renault Sandero - 502
23. Toyota Avanza - 467
24. BMW 1 Series - 461
25. Toyota Land Cruiser PU - 432
26. Nissan Qashqai - 407
27. Renault Clio - 398
28. Audi A3 - 373
29. Chevrolet Aveo - 357
30. Renault Duster - 351
31. Audi A4 - 324
32. Volkswagen Tiguan - 291
33. Nissan X-Trail - 278
34. Ford Kuga - 274
35. BMW 4 Series - 261
36. Suzuki Swift - 258
37. Toyota Yaris - 251
38. Volkswagen Jetta - 250
39. Nissan Almera - 233
40. Mazda3 - 228
41. Honda Ballade - 224
42. Volkswagen Amarok - 221
43. BMW 2 Series - 220
44. Nissan Micra - 207
45. Toyota Prado - 198
46. Chevrolet Cruze - 187
47. Jeep Compass - 182
48. Mazda CX-5 - 175
49. Jeep Grand Cherokee - 174
50. Nissan NV300 taxi - 168
51. Honda CR-V - 166
52. Opel Corsa - 165
53. Land Rover Discovery - 160
54. BMW X5 - 158
55. Ford Ikon - 156
56. Ford Focus - 153
57. BMW X3 - 148
57. Nissan Navara - 148
59. Volkswagen Caddy - 146
60. Chevrolet Captiva - 124
60. Jeep Wrangler - 124
62. Audi A1 - 112
62. Mini Hatch - 112
62. Range Rover Evoque - 112
65. Audi Q5 - 108
65. Honda Mobilio - 108
67. Volkswagen T5 - 106
68. BMW 5 Series - 104
69. Range Rover Sport - 103
70. Audi A5 - 95
71. Toyota Land Cruiser 200 - 94
72. Audi Q3 - 93
73. BMX X4 - 92
73. Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up - 92
75. Dodge Journey - 91
76. Mitsubishi ASX - 88
77. Mazda BT-50 - 87
77. Mitsubishi Mirage - 87
79. Opel Adam - 86
80. Chevrolet Trailblazer - 84
81. Jeep Cherokee - 82
82. Chevrolet Sonic - 80
82. Opel Astra - 80
84. Suzuki Jimny - 77
85. Volvo V40 - 75
86. Mitsubishi Pajero - 72
87. Mahindra Bolero - 70
88. Mazda2 - 68
89. Volkswagen Touareg - 67
90. Tata Xenon - 66
90. Volvo S60 - 66
92. Ford Transit - 63
93. Porsche Cayenne - 62
94. Mahindra XUV - 60
95. Nissan Sentra - 59
96. Peugeot 208 - 57
97. Fiat 500 - 55
98. Nissan Juke - 53
98. Suzuki Celerio - 53
98. Volvo XC60 - 53
*List excludes non-reporters such as Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia and GWM. Shame on them.
Data: Lightstone Auto