Aggregate domestic sales in May this year, at 38 337 units, reflected an increase of 25 463 units or 197.8% from the 12 874 vehicles sold in May 2020. Export sales also recorded a gain of 23 425 units, or 196.8%, to 35 326 units in May compared to the 11 901 exported in May 2020, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa).
According to a Naamsa report, of the total reported industry sales of 38 337 vehicles, an estimated 33 642 units, or 87.8%, represented dealer sales, 8.2% sales to the vehicle rental industry, 2.0% to industry corporate fleets and 2.0% to government.
“Sales for medium and heavy truck segments of the industry also reflected a positive performance - and at 559 units and 1 726 units, respectively, showed an increase of 256 units, or 84.5% in the case of medium commercial vehicles, and in the case of heavy trucks and buses, an increase of 1 192 vehicles, or a gain of 223.2%. The May export sales number, at 35 326 units, reflected an increase of 23 425 vehicles, or 196.8%, compared to the 11 901 vehicles exported in May 2020,” the report read.
Naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa said that for the first five months of 2021 vehicle exports were now 67.2% above the corresponding period last year. “Following the temporary shutdown of the domestic automotive industry in April 2020 under level 5 of the country’s lockdown restrictions, vehicle production and retail sales only started to ease back into operation in May under level 4, and the month-on-month comparison therefore remains distorted,” he said.
“However, the new vehicle market is in gradual recovery mode in line with the anticipated growth rate in excess of 3% projected for 2021 for the domestic economy, and for the year to date aggregate new vehicle sales were now 44.9% above the same period last year,” he added.
