In June, new vehicle sales rose 12.6% to 44,880 units on a year-on-year basis.
The association said while sales in all segments had registered an improvement on the corresponding month last year, there were clear signs of slower underlying momentum in demand for new cars.
In the year to date, domestic sales remained 15.0% ahead of those in the corresponding seven months in 2010.
Export sales in the month rose 1,893 units or 8.1% to 25,147 vehicles.
Out of 45,703 vehicles, 80.9% or 36,986 units represented dealer sales, 12.8% represented sales to the car rental industry, 3.4% sales to government and 2.9% represented industry corporate fleet sales.
Total passenger new car sales in July rose 9.7% or 2,819 units to 32,030 units.
Naamsa noted that there had been a substantial decline in the growth momentum of new car sales.
The new car market in the month under review had received support from strong demand by car rental companies with the car rental industry accounting for 17.4% of total sales.
Sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses, at 11,420 units during the month, reflected an increase of 1,054 units or a gain of 10.2% compared to the 10,366 units sold in the corresponding month last year.
For the first seven months of 2011, new light commercial vehicle sales were ahead by only 5.8% compared to the corresponding period last year.
Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the industry at 765 units and 1,488 units, respectively, had recorded an increase of 146 units or 23.6% in the case of medium commercial vehicles and a gain of 339 units or 29.5%, in the case of heavy trucks and buses, compared to the corresponding month last year.
Sales of extra heavy commercial vehicles had registered an exceptional performance rising by 43.8% from 719 units in July last year to 1,034 units in July this year.
Total year to date sales of medium, heavy commercials and buses remained 25.0% ahead of the corresponding seven months of last year.
The association said the performance reflected positive fixed investment associated with major infrastructural projects.
Exports of South African produced motor vehicles during July, at 25,147 units reflected an increase of 1,893 vehicles or 8.1% compared to the 23,254 vehicles exported during July last year.
Naamsa said there were increasing indications that the macro environment going forward was likely to become less supportive.
The decline in the purchasing managers' index, for the fourth successive month, as well as continuing declines in the Reserve Bank's leading indicator, suggested a slower pace of expansion over the medium term.
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