Total new-vehicle sales in August dropped by 3.1%, to 45 679 units, compared with the same month last year.
The new-passenger-car market reached 28 951 units last month – a decline of 6.7% when compared with August last year.
The car rental industry accounted for 16.2% of new-passenger-car sales in August.
Sales of new bakkies, vans and minibus taxis – light commercial vehicles – were up 2.7% in August, to 13 652 units.
August medium-truck sales inched up by 0.3%, reaching 702 units, while heavy-truck and bus sales expanded by 10.4%, to 2 374 units.
Last month’s new-vehicle export sales, at 41 462 units, increased by 33.5% compared with the same month last year.
naamsa | The Automotive Business Council says the passenger-car market’s performance reflects the continued impact of rising living costs and lower
disposable income on consumers’ ability to be active in the new-vehicle market.
“Affordability, along with delayed replacement cycles, appear to be driving new-vehicle sales.”