New-vehicle sales decline by 4.1% in 2015, exports set new record

7th January 2016

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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South African new-vehicle sales declined by 4.1% in 2015 compared with 2014. This follows a 0.7% drop in 2014 compared with 2013.

Unaudited data released by the Department of Trade and Industry showed that South African new-vehicle sales decreased to 617 927 units in 2015, compared with 644 259 units in 2014.

Commenting on the data, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) on Thursday attributed the decline to a slowing domestic economy, interest rate increases, pressure on consumers’ disposable income and rising new vehicle prices.

The new passenger car market contracted by 5.9% in 2015 compared with 2014, to 412 826 units, while the light commercial vehicle segment inched up 0.4%, to 174 490 units.

Sales of medium commercial vehicles declined by 4.9%, to 10 488 units, while sales of heavy trucks and buses dropped by 2%, to 20 123 units.

New-vehicle exports, however, set a new record, at 337 748 units, up 20.5% on the 276 936 vehicles exported in 2014.

Naamsa said industry trading conditions had remained intensely competitive in 2015, with more than 52 brands and 2 595 model
derivatives available to South African consumers.

Preliminary estimates indicated that motor-industry, new-vehicle-related sales turnover had grown by about 3.6% in 2015, based on sales volumes and an estimated increase of about 6.5% in new-vehicle prices, to around R235-billion for the year.

New-vehicle export sales added a further R80-billion to industry revenue.

Gloomy Outlook for 2016
Exports could improve by some 42 000 vehicles, or 12.5 %, in 2016, to reach “a conservative” estimate of 380 000 units, said Naamsa.

However, the association did not have the same optimism for the domestic market, and painted a rather gloomy picture for 2016.

“Domestically, economic growth continues to disappoint and South Africa’s fiscal position remains under pressure as a result of difficulties experienced by a number of State-owned enterprises, rising expenditure on social programmes and increased debt servicing costs,” noted Naamsa.

“International events that dominated 2015 are likely to continue in the current year and these include the global economic slowdown, notably in Asia, Africa, South America and parts of Europe, and the associated relentless downward pressure on commodity prices.

“South Africa’s economic situation remains constrained with expectations of sluggish economic growth of around 1% at best [in 2016].

“The sharply lower value of the rand will translate into upward pressure on inflation, particularly in the case of new vehicle prices in the coming year. The impact of the severe drought throughout the country will also negatively affect economic growth.

“Expectations of further increases in interest rates and administered
prices (electricity, water, fuel) will further pressurise personal disposable income.”

Naamsa expected a decline in new-vehicle sales of between 3% and 5% in 2016, with the market to reach around 598 200 units – roughly 50 000 units less than 2014.

Factoring in the expected improvement in exports, domestic production was expected to increase from 615 000 vehicles in 2015, to around 660 000 vehicles in 2016 – a 7.3% improvement.

 

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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