JOHANNESBURG - 2019 was another sombre year for the South African motor industry, with overall vehicle sales decreasing by 2.8 percent, from 552 227 units in 2018 to 536 626 last year, according to figures released by Naamsa.
This was a continuation of the gradual decline that’s been taking place since 2013, with 2017 being the only year in that period in which marginal growth was achieved.
Last year’s sales decline came in spite of a strong contribution by the rental car industry as well as low inflation that, says Naamsa, made vehicles more affordable in real terms.
The only real silver lining for the industry was an impressive 10.2 percent year-on-year growth in vehicle exports, culminating in an all-time record of 386 863 units shipped overseas.
On the local sales front, buyers continued to gravitate towards entry-level hatchbacks as well as smaller SUVs, as you’ll see in the top 10 list below. In fact, the stellar performance by Renault’s Kwid, which made eighth place overall, shows that the market is hungry for more affordable vehicles.
South Africa is still very much a bakkie country though, with Toyota’s Hilux leading by a country mile, and it’s also interesting to note that four of the nation’s top selling vehicles in 2019 were bakkies.
These were South Africa’s top choices last year:
10 TOP SELLING VEHICLES: 2019
1. Toyota Hilux
Total sold - 2019: 40 934
Monthly average: 3411
2. Volkswagen Polo Vivo
Total sold - 2019: 29 618
Monthly average: 2468
3. Ford Ranger
Total sold - 2019: 25 042
Monthly average: 2086
4. Volkswagen Polo
Total sold - 2019: 21 563
Monthly average: 1797
5. Nissan NP200
Total sold - 2019: 17 937
Monthly average: 1495
6. Toyota Hi-Ace / Ses’Fikile
Total sold - 2019: 16 902
Monthly average: 1409
7. Isuzu D-Max / KB
Total sold - 2019: 16 131
Monthly average: 1344
8. Renault Kwid
Total sold - 2019: 11 848
Monthly average: 987
9. Toyota Fortuner
Total sold - 2019: 11 644
Monthly average: 970
10. Ford EcoSport
Total sold - 2019: 9802
Monthly average: 817