THE National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA has reported that 42,436 vehicles were sold during the course of June.
While this represents a marginal decrease (-1,8%) over May, it illustrates a 21,5% decrease over the corresponding month in 2007.
Passenger vehicles were slightly up with 25,666 units sold over the course of the month.
The light commercial vehicle sector came under heavy pressure with 13,544 units sold, a decrease of 9,7% over the previous month and 22,7% down on June last year.
The top performing new passenger vehicles in June were: (1) VW Polo/Classic 2 211, (2) Toyota Corr/RunX/Verso/Auris 1 883, (3) Toyota Yaris 1 819, (4) VW CitiGolf 1 337 (5) Mercedes C-Class 989 (6) BMW 3-Series 813 (7) VW Golf A5/Jetta A5733 (8) Opel Corsa 707 (9) Mazda 2589 (10) Audi A4/Avant 583.
The top performing new light commercial vehicles in June: were (1) Toyota Hilux 2 297, (2) Toyota Quantum 1 872,
(3) Opel Corsa Utility 1 742, (4) Isuzu KB1 407, (5) Ford Bantam 1 098, (6) Nissan Hardbody 1 064 (7) Nissan 1400 680 (8) Ford Ranger 643 (9) Mazda BT-50 402
(10) Mitsubishi Colt 300.
“While passenger vehicles showed a very slight increase in numbers, the light commercial vehicle sector came under increasing pressure,” explains Jacques Brent, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA).
“As a result of compounding economic factors, such as increasing fuel prices and rising interest rates, business confidence is at its lowest point since 2006.”
FMCSA maintained its numbers with 4776 units sold during June, 2633 units were passenger cars while 2143 units per light commercial vehicles.
However, FMCSA has increased its year-to-date market share from 11,2% to 11,5%.
The Mazda2 continues to top the sales chart for the company with 589 units sold, while the Ford Bantam was the top commercial vehicle seller with 1089 models sold.
“With pressure expected to continue in the coming months consumers are also feeling the pressure and are looking at buying down in to smaller more economical vehicles or increasing their ownership cycles,” he adds. Year to date sales have declined by 15,7%.
The cumulative effects of petrol and interest increases will continue to impact new vehicle sales during the course of 2008 as buyers exercise extreme caution,” concludes Brent.
“The outlook for new vehicle sales must be considered poor against the backdrop of further fuel price increases and other inflationary pressures which are set to squeeze household disposable incomes even further says General Motors South Africa Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Malcolm Gauld.
“This pressure is expected to continue through year end and into 2009 when interest rates are expected to peak and then ease.”
GMSA reported 5467 units in June, underpinned by 1943 passenger, 3199 light commercials and 325 trucks for an overall market share of 13,9 percent.
This reflects year on year market share growth for GMSA of just under one percent despite overall volumes being lower.
