Domestic new vehicle sales in February increased by 1.1%, to 52 368 units, compared with the same month last year.
Statistics released by the Department of Trade and Industry on Monday show that new passenger car sales grew by 1.5% in February, to 34 909 units.
The car rental industry accounted for 9.9% of new car sales, noted the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) in a statement.
Sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses, at 15 139 units, grew 1.8%, while sales of medium trucks, at 768 units, dropped by 16.4%.
New heavy truck and bus sales posted a 3.5% decline, to 1 553 units.
February, however, proved to be an excellent month for vehicle exports. The local automotive assembly industry moved 29 760 units to markets abroad – a 35.6% gain on February last year.
Naamsa anticipated that exports for 2015 could improve by up to 20% compared with last year, to a record of between 320 000 and 330 000 units for the year.
However, the domestic outlook for 2015 new vehicle sales remained one of marginal growth.
Naamsa said this was largely based on projections of a slight improvement in South Africa’s economic growth rate to around 2%, relative stability in automotive industry industrial relations, moderating consumer price inflation, as well as steady interest rates and credit ratings.
“The key imponderable revolves around security and stability of electricity supply.”
Top selling Cars and Bakkies in February
1. Toyota Hilux 3 097
2. Ford Ranger 3 078
3. Volkswagen Polo Vivo 2 401
4. Volkswagen Polo 2 155
5. Toyota Etios 1 599
6. Toyota Corolla/Auris/Quest 1 590
7. Nissan NP200 1 409
8. Chevrolet Utility 1 406
9. Ford EcoSport 1 318
10. Toyota Quantum 1 312
* Volkswagen sold 491 units of its entry-level newcomer, the Up.