New vehicle sales still sliding

However, on the positive side export sales of new vehicles continued to hold up well. Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 51 055 vehicles, an estimated 41 456 units or 81.2% represented dealer sales, 12.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, 3.6% constituted sales to government and 2.9% to industry corporate fleets.

Sales of new cars in the consumer sensitive new car market at 34 885 units reflected a decline of 2 958 units or a fall of 7.8% compared to the 37 843 new cars sold in August last year. Industry sources say the slowing new car market was despite attractive incentive packages.

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses also declined by 1 159 units or 7.8% compared to the 14 940 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.

Vehicle exports continued to reflect upward momentum with 28 069 units moved abroad to record an increase of more than 12% over the numbers sold in August a year ago. Vehicle exports for 2015 remained on target to improve, in annual terms, by about 20% to a projected industry record export number of about 330 000 for the year (2014: 276 873 export units).