The National Association of Automobile Manufactures of South Africa (Naamsa) today commented that new vehicles sales for the month of August continued the steady growth trend of the first seven months of 2012, with all-round sales across segments achieving gains compared to August 2011.
According to the association, aggregate industry sales for August 2012 grew by 4 844 units or 9,4 per cent to 56 253 vehciles sold from the 51 409 sold in the same month last year. In total, the sales for the first eight months of 2012 remains 11,3 per cent ahead of the corresponding amount of time last year. Exports improved by a marginal 188 units or 0,8 per cent.
Overall, out of the total detailed (disaggregated) reported Industry sales of 53 725 vehicles (excluding MBSA, who continues to provide a singe sales number while RGT provides estimates by segment ), 81,1 per cent or 43 546 units represented dealer sales, 11,5 per cent represented sales to the vehicle rental Industry, 3,9 per cent corporate fleet sales and 3,5 per cent to government.
Aggregate industry new car sales during Augus maintained its upward momentum and at 40 345 units (including MBSA) reflected an improvement of 4 153 units or 11,5 per cent compared to the 36 192 new cars sold during August 2011. The year-to-date new car sales remain 12,5 percent ahead of the first eight months of 2011, helped along by a high daily selling rate and strong demand by rental car companies – who continue to re-fleet.
Sales of new light commercial vehicles (Including estimates for MBSA commercial vehicle sales by segment), bakkies and mini buses had reflected an increase of 5,7 per cent or 731 units to 13 637 vehicles sold, compared to the 12 906 LCVs sold in August last year.
Regarding the modest increase in exports of South African produced motor vehicles, a lowly 0,8 per cent or 188 unit increase that totals 25 024 vehicles exported during August 2012, it’s expected that export sales will increase as export programmes are bolstered in the coming months and as exports of LCVs are expected to increase on 2013.
Despite the threat of rising food and fuel prices that will no doubt have an effect on inflation, as well as a weakened Rand value that could minimise sales growth going into 2013, it’s expected that sales for the rest of 2012 are on track for an overall growth thanks to historically low interest rates and improved demand for credit, as well as plenty of new model introductions.
You can download a copy of the Naamsa August vehicle sales by clicking on the DOCUMENTS section to the top-right of the featured article image