AutoTrader explores whether cars are increasingly playing second fiddle to bakkies and SUVs in SA too? You may be seeing a lot more bakkies and SUVs on SA's and the world's roads in the not-too-distant future, reports AutoTrader... While the world’s most popular vehicle in 2017 – the Toyota Corolla, with 1,160,495 global sales - is still a car, bakkies, SUVs and crossovers are fast encroaching on car territory all over the globe. And, as George Mienie, AutoTrader CEO, points out, precisely the same trend is evident in South Africa too. Toyota Hilux, fourth most searched for vehicle on AutoTrader. Photo credit: Motorpress “South Africans have long had love affairs with bakkies. In fact, the world’s most popular vehicle in 2017 – the Toyota Corolla – doesn’t even feature in the top ten in South Africa (its budget sibling, the Corolla Quest, fares well, with 12,333 sales recorded in 2017). Instead, all the glory typically goes to bakkies. This much was apparent once again in 2017, with the Toyota Hilux (36,422 sales) and Ford Ranger (32,786 sales) being the top two best sellers in this country,” explains Mienie. In third place in South Africa – with 28,402 sales – was the VW Polo Vivo hatch and sedan. While these bakkies don’t occupy the same positions in global rankings, they’re popular internationally too. “The F-Series Light-Duty was the sixth most popular vehicle in world last year, with 730,596 units sold. The Hilux occupied the 19th position, with 459,984 global sales. The Vivo, on the other hand, is only sold in South Africa and Kenya, so it obviously doesn’t feature on the world rankings,” he explains. According to LMC Automotive, a number of SUVs and crossovers feature in the most popular vehicles in the world during 2017. The Toyota RAV4 was the fourth most popular car in 2017, with global sales of 786,580. Number five was the Honda CR-V (753,359 global sales) and number eight was the Ford Escape (632,529 global sales). The same can be seen in South Africa. “While cars such as the Polo Vivo and Polo are extremely popular in this country, so too are the Toyota Fortuner (13,696 sales last year), Ford EcoSport (9,920) Renault Kwid (8,027) and RAV (7,622),” reveals Mienie. The popularity of SUVs in this country is furthermore reflected in AutoTrader search data. “The Fortuner and BMW X5 were the ninth and 10th most searched-for vehicles on AutoTrader in 2017,” Mienie explains. Going forward, the AutoTrader CEO expects more bakkie, SUV and crossover sales – both here in South Africa and globally. “The modern motorist demands so much more. He or she wants style, safety, economy and practicality too – and that’s precisely what modern bakkies, SUVs and crossovers deliver,” he explains. List of AutoTrader’s top searched for vehicles for 2017
BMW 3 Series
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Volkswagen Golf
Toyota Hilux
Ford Ranger
Volkswagen Polo
BMW 1 Series
Audi A3
Toyota Fortuner
BMW X5
World’s most popular cars by sales
Toyota Corolla, global sales: 1,160,495
Honda Civic, global sales: 833,017
VW Golf, global sales: 788,044
Toyota RAV4, global sales: 786,580
Honda CR-V, global sales: 753,359
Ford F-Series Light-Duty, global sales: 730,596
Ford Focus, global sales: 656,071
Ford Escape, 632,529
VW Polo, global sales: 614,827
Toyota Camry, global sales: 569,760
Source: LMC Automotive South Africa’s annual passenger vehicle sales for 2017
VW Polo Vivo hatch & sedan, SA sales: 28,402
VW Polo hath & sedan, SA sales: 22,575
Toyota Etios, SA sales: 14,686
Toyota Fortuner, SA sales: 13,696
Toyota Corolla Quest, SA sales: 12,333
Ford Fiesta, SA sales: 11,446
Ford EcoSport, SA sales: 9,920
Kia Picanto, SA sales: 8,140
Reault Kwid, SA sales: 8,027
Toyota Rav, SA sales: 7,622
Source: Lightstone South Africa’s annual light vehicle sales for 2017 (passenger & light commercial)
Toyota Hilux, SA sales: 36,422
Ford Ranger, SA sales: 32,786
VW Polo Vico hatch & sedan, SA sales: 28,402
VW Polo hatch & sedan, SA sales: 22,575
Toyota Quantm, SA sales: 15,694
Nissan NP200, SA sales: 15,081
Toyota Etios, SA sales: 14,686
Isuzu KB, SA sales: 14,255
Toyota Fortuna, SA sales: 13,696
Nissan NP300/Hardbody, SA sales: 13,604
31 Jan 2018 17:03<<Back
|