Passenger cars the big performers
WHILE SALES of motor vehicles on the local market took a hammering last year, exports are on the up-and-up, according to NAAMSA (National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA).
In the association's latest report, total vehicle sales for the year took an unwelcome downward turn of 6,6% - the 392 980 vehicles sold being
26 121 less than the total for 1996.
But, said the report: Exports of SA-produced vehicles continued in a strong expansionary phase during 1997.
The export statistics for the year read: Cars 10 458; light commercials 8 000; medium and heavy trucks 1 111 - giving a total of 19 569 units exported, almost 70% up on the 1996 export performance.
Passenger cars were the big performers, with the 1997 total almost 180% up on the
3 743 exported in 1996. LCV exports, meantime, went up by 12,3% from 1996's 7 125, while medium and heavy commercials rose by 62,2% on the previous year's total of 685.
