For October 2018, Naamsa said South Africa’s export vehicle sales “registered strong gains in line with industry expectations”. Yes, the month’s aggregate export vehicle sales came in at 34 134 units, an improvement of 5 901 units or a substantial gain of 20,9% compared with the 28 233 vehicles exported in October 2017.
So, let’s take a look at which automakers were the biggest exporters from South Africa for the month.
Mercedes-Benz remained in first place, exporting 9 070 examples (down 630 units, month on month) of its C-Class from the East London plant. The BMW Group, meanwhile, climbed two places to second, with its Rosslyn plant churning out 7 396 examples of the X3 for foreign markets, representing an increase of 1 716 units compared with September.
The Volkswagen Group thus fell one to third, exporting 7 295 examples (down 2 145 units) of its Polo hatchback from Uitenhage. Toyota climbed one to fourth (despite production being disrupted by strike action) with an export figure of 5 919, including 5 583 examples of its Hilux, 211 units of the Fortuner and 112 vehicles from its Corolla/Quest line (all built at its Prospecton factory), plus 13 examples of Hino trucks. This total is up 1 814 units on the Japanese firm’s effort in September.
Ford, meanwhile, thus fell two to fifth place, shipping off 3 478 units (comprising 3 469 units of the Ranger and nine of the Everest) from its Silverton facility in the month. This represents a hefty drop of 3 074 units.
Nissan fell 271 units to 430 (made up of 366 Hardbody units, 33 NP200s and 31 NV200s) to remain in sixth, while Isuzu dropped 24 units to 325 (including 185 examples of the KB bakkie, 123 wearing the D-Max badge and eight units of the MU-X) to again take seventh.
For reference, see September 2018’s list here…
Biggest exporters for October 2018:
1. Mercedes-Benz: 9 070
2. BMW Group: 7 396
3. Volkswagen Group: 7 295
4. Toyota: 5 919
5. Ford Motor Company: 3 478
6. Nissan: 430
7. Isuzu: 325
Also read:
- SA’s 10 best-selling passenger cars of October 2018
- South Africa’s 10 best-selling bakkies of October 2018
- New-look Toyota Hilux Dakar launches in South Africa!
- Shelby to offer (right-hand-drive) Ford F-150 bakkies in SA
- Ford SA confirms new engine, more kit for updated Ranger
- New Isuzu KB X-Rider Black launched in South Africa!
- Mercedes-Benz X-Class: V6’s 0-100 km/h time revealed
- VW SA to offer manual Amarok V6 (with low-range)!
- Drag race! Volkswagen Amarok V6 vs. VW Golf GTD…
- 5 half-tonne bakkies axed in SA over the past decade
- Volkswagen unveils sportily styled Saveiro Pepper…
