PRETORIA - The South African motor industry continues to see-saw, with November 2019 seeing a 5.8 percent decline in overall vehicle sales, versus the same month last year, according to Naamsa. This follows the slight uptick of 0.5 percent registered in October, which is traditionally a strong sales month.
While light commercial vehicle sales plunged in November, with a year-on-year decline of 22.1 percent, passenger car sales showed a slight improvement of 1.3 percent, largely as a result of strong demand from the rental industry. The medium and heavy commercial vehicle segments registered respective declines of 7.6 percent and 1.8 percent.
Vehicle exports showed a slight decline of 0.9 percent versus November last year, however, the bigger picture looks rosy, with a new annual record of 374 215 units having been set with one month still to go until year-end.
“The current low economic growth environment and enduring pressure on household disposable income due to rising costs of living are not conducive to uplifting business and consumer confidence,” Naamsa said in response to November’s sales figures.
“As a result, conditions in the domestic new vehicle market were expected to remain under pressure over the short to medium term.”
However, softer demand towards the end of the year is to be expected, says WesBank’s communications manager Lebogang Gaoaketse:
“As the year quickly starts drawing to a close, sales volumes traditionally contract, as consumers delay purchase decisions into the new year, avoiding the holiday season and embracing the opportunity for a newer year model vehicle.
“However, November sales continue to contribute to a worse-than-expected overall market for the year,” Gaoaketse added.
“It is tough going in the market at the moment and we all still wait for the green shoots to appear,” said Gary McCraw, National Director of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association.
“As sales continue to decline and consumers buckle from the rising cost of living and economic uncertainty, other areas of business such as parts, workshop and pre-owned cars remain a key area of focus for franchised retailers”.
If you need any evidence that household budgets are under strain, look no further than Renault’s recently
, which managed to find just over 1500 homes in its first sales month, placing it sixth overall in the market. Volkswagen’s Polo Vivo also sold in significant numbers, leading the passenger car market with 2439 sales.
Toyota’s Hilux (2588) and Ford’s Ranger (1894) sold in lower-than-usual numbers.
50 TOP SELLING VEHICLES: NOVEMBER 2019
1Toyota Hilux25882Volkswagen Polo Vivo24393Volkswagen Polo20384Ford Ranger18945Toyota Hiace15496Renault Kwid15087Ford EcoSport13608Isuzu D-Max12999Ford Figo100210Toyota Etios85811Volkswagen T-Cross84212Kia Picanto73313Volkswagen Polo Sedan71114Nissan NP20069415Toyota Fortuner66416Toyota Corolla Quest59817Hyundai Grand i1057618Suzuki Swift55019Hyundai i2054020Volkswagen Tiguan53621Toyota Yaris52522Toyota Avanza50723Renault Sandero44624Nissan NP300 Hardbody44525Hyundai Creta41626Kia Rio39827Toyota Rav437328Renault Clio36129Fiat Panda33230BMW 3 Series33031Mazda CX-532132Nissan X-Trail31033Hyundai Tucson30434Toyota Corolla29635Nissan Almera29236Hyundai Elantra28037Nissan Qashqai27838Mazda CX-327539Volkswagen Golf24840Renault Duster24441Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up23842Datsun Go23343Hyundai Atos23044Suzuki Ertiga23045Toyota Land Cruiser PU22446Ford Everest22047Renault Captur21048Kia Sportage20649Mazda220250Volkswagen Amarok186