Although new vehicle sales growth continued in November, sales for medium and heavy truck segments of the industry reflected a weak performance according to latest figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa).
Naamsa said that 664 medium trucks had been sold and 1 701 units in the heavy truck sector. These figures showed a decline of 70 vehicles, or a fall of 9.5%, in the case of medium commercial vehicles, and in the case of heavy trucks and buses, a decline of 156 vehicles, or a fall of 8.4%, compared to the corresponding month last year.
“Aggregate domestic sales at 39 315 units reflected a decline of 5 355 units, or 12.0%, from the 44 670 vehicles sold in November last year. The trend was mirrored by export sales at 31 966 units, which also declined by 2 622 units, or 7.6%, compared to the 34 588 vehicles exported in November 2019,” Naamsa said.
According to a statement from the organisation, of the total reported industry sales of 39 315 vehicles, an estimated 33 547 units, or 85.3%, represented dealer sales, an estimated 8.0% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, 3.9% sales to government, and 2.8% to industry corporate fleets.
“The November 2020 new passenger car market, at 25 707 units, registered a decline of 5 696 cars, or a fall of 18.1%, compared to the 31 403 new cars sold in November last year. The car rental industry accounted for a sound 11.6% of car sales in November 2020. Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini-buses, at 11 243 units during November, recorded a welcome increase of 567 units, or a gain of 5.3%, from the 10 676 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.”