Although SA vehicle export sales recorded a fairly substantial decline in December, the figures for the whole year tell a more encouraging story.
The 17 391 units exported in December reflected a fall of 4 439 vehicles (or 20.3%) compared to the 21 830 vehicles exported during December, 2014.
But the vehicle exports for 2015, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa), represented the highest annual industry export figure on record. Total vehicle exports at 333 748 units were well up on the 276 936 vehicles exported in 2014.
Assuming further improvement in the global economy, Naamsa added, industry export sales during 2016 could improve by some 42 000 vehicles (or about 12.5 %) to reach a conservative projection of 380 000 export units.
