Total new-vehicle sales in July inched up by 1.3%, to 43 389 units, compared with the same month last year.
The vehicle rental industry accounted for 14.1% of domestic sales last month.
The new-passenger-car market reached 27 839 units last month – a drop of 9.7% over July last year.
Sales of new bakkies, vans and minibus taxis – light commercial vehicles – jumped by 32.6%, to 12 666 units.
July medium-truck sales declined by 11.6%, reaching 683 units, while heavy-truck and bus sales expanded by 31.6%, to 2 201 units.
July export sales, at 37 064 units, increased by 47.3% compared with the same month last year.
Year-to-date new-vehicle sales in the South African market, at 309 359 units, are up 4.4% compared with the same seven months last year.
Year-to-date exports are up 10%, at 209 900 units.