Polo Vivo
New vehicle sales in South Africa decreased by 6.8% in January, to 53 025 units, compared with the same month last year, reported the Department of Trade and Industry on Monday.
During January, 38 008 new passenger cars were sold – a 7% drop compared with the same month last year.
Sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses, at 13 145 units, were down 6.6%.
Sales of medium trucks and big vans stagnated, at 780 units. Heavy truck sales, at 1 092 units, declined 8%.
New vehicle exports dropped 19.7%, to 13 960 units, compared with January last year.
This came as Mercedes-Benz South Africa halted exports, as the company retooled its East London plant for the production of the 2014 C-Class, noted the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa).
“Export sales during the first half of 2014 will be affected by the absence of any contribution by Mercedes-Benz.”
Domestically, 2014 new vehicle sales were likely to experience headwinds as a result of above-inflation average new vehicle price increases, the slowdown in the economy and, more recently, rising interest rates, added the association.
As a result, Naamsa anticipated a challenging domestic trading environment, characterised by consolidation in sales numbers around the levels recorded last year – “at best”.
Standard Bank vehicle and asset finance head Sydney Soundy said on Monday that new vehicle prices had grown by 3.8% in 2013 over 2012. However, used car pricing dropped 2.2%, which would see the used car market “become more attractive”.
Top Sellers in January:
Cars and Bakkies:
1. Volkswagen Polo Vivo 2 965
2. Volkswagen Polo 2 813
3. Toyota Hilux 2 772
4. Toyota Etios 2 250
5. Ford Ranger 1 656
6. Ford Figo 1 446
7. Toyota Corolla/Auris 1 395
8. Chevrolet Utility 1 332
9. Isuzu KB 1 271
10. Nissan NP200 1 171
Medium Trucks and Vans:
1. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 150
2.VW Crafter 148
3. Iveco Daily 98
Heavy Trucks:
1. Isuzu F-Series 74
2. UD Trucks UD-H 63
3. Hino 500 Series 38
Extra-Heavy Trucks:
1. F-L Argosy 99
2. Mercedes-Benz Actros 90
3. Mercedes Axor2 85
Buses:
1. Tata LPO 18