Vehicle sales up 9.4% y/y in August: Naamsa

Total vehicle sales in SA were up 9.4% to 56 253 in August‚ from 51 409 units in August last year.

Total domestic sales in the eight months to date remained 11.3% ahead of the corresponding period last year‚ the data showed.

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) still provides a single total sales number for passenger cars‚ commercial vehicles and export sales.

New passenger car sales lifted by 11.5% to 40 345 units from 36 192 units a year ago‚ supported mainly by strong demand from car rental companies‚ for the second month in a row. The year to date new passenger car sales remained 12.5% ahead of the corresponding period a year ago.

Including estimates for MBSA commercial vehicle sales by segment - sales of new light commercial vehicles‚ bakkies and mini buses rose 5.7% to 13 637 from 12 906 a year ago.

Sales of medium commercial vehicles were up 11.8% to 815 units‚ while heavy trucks and buses declined by 8% to 1456 units compared with the same time last year.

Exports of South African-produced motor vehicles - including MBSA export sales data - edged up 0.8% to 25 024 compared with 24 836 vehicles in August last year.

The association said that despite prospects of a lower economic growth environment‚ the automotive sector continued to perform remarkably well.

"Factors that would continue to support domestic sales included historically low interest rates‚ ongoing improvement in vehicle affordability in real terms‚ improving demand for credit by households and businesses‚" Naamsa said.

The association said in terms of domestic sales‚ the industry remained on track for growth of around 10% this year.