Naamsa confirms that new vehicle sales in South Africa are up for October 2021 but the increase in incremental compared to last month. This despite the three-week strike in the steel and engineering sector and the return of load-shedding which impacted the new vehicle market and vehicle exports.
Aggregate domestic new vehicle sales in October 2021, at 41 035 units, reflected an increase of 2 341 units, or 6,1 per cent, from the 38 694 vehicles sold in October last year. Export sales recorded a decline of 10 159 units, or 30,0 per cent, to 23 685 units last month compared to the 33 844 vehicles exported in October 2020.
Overall, out of the total reported industry sales of 41 035 vehicles, an estimated 33 842 units, or 82 5 per cent, represented dealer sales, an estimated 14,0 per cent represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, 2,1 per cent sales to government, and 1,4 per cent to industry corporate fleets.
The October 2021 new passenger car market at 27 496 units had registered an increase of 815 cars, or a gain of 3,1 per cent, compared to the 26 681 new cars sold in October 2020. The car rental industry supported the new passenger car market during the month and accounted for a sound 18,2 per cent of car sales in October 2021.
Domestic figures of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini-buses at 11 188 units during October 2021 had recorded an increase of 1 535 units, or a gain of 15,9 per cent, from the 9 653 light commercial vehicles sold during October 2020.
The October 2021 exports number at 23 685 units reflected a fall of 10 159 vehicles, or 30,0 per cent, compared to the 33,844 vehicles exported in October 2020. However, for the year-to-date, vehicle exports were still 12,0 per cent ahead of the same period last year.
Vehicle exports continued their four-month downward trajectory during the month which Naamsa says could be linked to the three-week strike in the steel and engineering sector impacting on vehicle production as well as new model introductions normally taking time to ramp up to full production. Naamsa also says that on the upside, the domestic automotive industry will continue to benefit from the strong rebound in global economic activity and the favourable conditions abroad.
