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Johannesburg - Total new vehicle sales grew at a modest pace
last month compared with the same period a year ago‚ according to the latest
National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) data.
New car sales rose 1.4% in September to 55 097‚ from 54 357
a year earlier.
The association attributed the slower growth in domestic
sales to‚ in part‚ the higher base effect established last year when more units
were sold in September.
The tragic events at Marikana together with the current high
level of industrial action in an increasing number of sectors in the economy
had dented business confidence in SA‚ Naamsa said‚ adding that consumers
similarly would have been affected and concerns about the macro socio- economic
environment in the country was likely to have resulted in a deferral of
purchasing decisions.
Total domestic sales in the nine months to date remained 10%
ahead of the corresponding period last year‚ the data showed.
Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA) still provides a single total sales
number for passenger cars‚ commercial vehicles and export sales.
New passenger car sales lifted 4.4% to 39 496 units‚ from 37
829 units a year ago‚ supported by strong demand on the part of car rental
companies with the industry accounting for 18.6% of total sales. The
year-to-date new car sales remained 11.5% ahead of the corresponding nine months
of 2011.
Including estimates for MBSA commercial vehicle sales by
segment - sales of new light commercial vehicles‚ bakkies and mini buses
declined 5.2% to 13 279 from 14 004 a year ago due to a fall in general
business confidence.
Sales of medium commercial vehicles dropped 8.6% to 779
units‚ while heavy trucks and buses dropped 7.7% to 1 543 units compared with
the same time last year.
Exports of South African-produced motor vehicles - including
MBSA export sales data - lifted 2.7% to 26 638 compared with 25 935 vehicles in
September last year.
Naamsa said despite prospects of a lower domestic economic growth environment‚ there were a number of factors that would continue to support domestic sales. These included historically low interest rates‚ ongoing improvement in vehicle affordability in real terms and higher demand for credit by households and businesses. The recent 0.5% reduction in interest rates would also support sales of consumer durable products‚ particularly new motor vehicles.
