Naamsa April 2013 The additional selling days as a result of the Easter holidays falling in March were primarily the cause for the rise of aggregate sales by 19,5 per cent (8312 vehicles)
Out of the total detailed reported industry sales of 50 920 vehicles, 45 938 (90,2 per cent) represented dealer sales, while 3,8 per cent represented rental industry sales, 2,1 per cent represented sales to government and 3,9 per cent represented sales to industry corporate fleets.
A total of 34 346 new cars were sold in April, an improvement of 4 830 units or 16,4 per cent over the 29 516 units sold in April 2012 – thanks in no small part to the higher daily selling rate. Bakkies, LCVs and mini buses also put in a strong performance, with an extra 3 038 units (27 per cent) sold during April to total 14 045 units sold.
Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry at 904 units and 1625 units, respectively, had recorded an increase of 173 units (23,7 per cent) in the case of medium commercial vehicles, and an increase of 271 units (20 per cent) in the case of heavy trucks and buses, compared to the corresponding month last year.
The strongest segment over the past month in terms of growth, with a 5 250 unit rise, was new vehicle exports, which at 22 907 vehicles exported represents a 29,7 per cent increase from the 17 657 exported during April 2012.
Factors that could hamper new vehicles sales in the medium term include new pricing structures as a result of the weaker exchange rate and the recent increase in CO2 emissions taxation on cars and certain LCVs. Still, the overall outlook for 2013 in good, with export demand expected to increase, as well as a favourably low interest rate, low debt servicing costs, strong replacement demand, a highly competitive trading environment and new model introductions.
You can read the full sales report by downloading the attached PDF at the top of the article or by clicking here.