The SA Vehicle Industry Thread

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa: February 2022

We’ve rummaged through Naamsa’s detailed monthly sales figures once again, picking out South Africa’s best-selling bakkies for February 2022. Here are all the details!

The performance of South Africa’s broader new-vehicle market in February 2022 was a resoundingly positive one. The same applies to the light-commercial space, which enjoyed year-on-year sales growth of 9.4% to end on 12 290 units. While this segment also includes body styles such as commercial vans, here we’ll again focus on individual models that form part of the traditional bakkie market. We’re in bakkie country, after all.

So, were there any major changes to the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies in February 2022? Let’s take a closer look at the figures to find out.

There were absolutely no surprises at the very summit of the chart, with the Toyota Hilux’s final tally of 3 503 units making it the country’s top-selling bakkie for the month by quite some margin and helping the Japanese brand secure its largest ever monthly market share (making it the firm’s second highest sales month ever). Interestingly, 237 of those Hilux units were listed as government sales, with a further 258 units registered in the rental space. Yet another crushingly dominant performance from the Prospecton-produced bakkie, then.

Second place was again reserved for the soon-to-be-replaced Isuzu D-Max (1 401 units, of which 298 represented government sales), while the Rosslyn-built Nissan NP200 more than doubled its January 2022 effort to move back into four figures (1 020 units, to be precise) and snatch the final spot on the podium. If only this little half-tonner had some competition…

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa for February 2022

1. Toyota Hilux – 3 503 units

2. Isuzu D-Max – 1 401 units

3. Nissan NP200 – 1 020 units

4. Ford Ranger – 879 units

5. Mahindra Pik Up – 766 units

6. GWM P-Series – 623 units

7. GWM Steed – 526 units

8. Nissan Navara – 476 units

9. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 – 244 units

10. Volkswagen Amarok – 159 units

www.cars.co.za

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa: February 2022

We’ve rummaged through Naamsa’s detailed monthly sales figures once again, picking out South Africa’s best-selling bakkies for February 2022. Here are all the details! The performance of South Africa’s broader new-vehicle market in February 2022 was a resoundingly positive one. The same applies...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
February SA car sales raise industry spirits, but we're still in hot water

- South Africans return to car dealers en masse as vehicle sales rise.
- Economic pressure is not souring an appetite for new models.
- Toyota once again leads the way in sales volumes for the month.

www.news24.com

February SA car sales raise industry spirits, but we're still in hot water | Life

Toyota leads the way in sales once again, but it was a good month for most OEMs, particularly Suzuki and Mahindra, which are rising in the ranks.
www.news24.com www.news24.com
 
What has happened to Honda SA? A look at sales figures

In the not too distant past, Honda was considered a mainstream brand in South Africa. The sales figures, however, suggest that’s not been the case for quite some time. Let’s take a look at what’s happened to Honda and what could be in its future…

Back in February 2015, Honda registered a healthy 1 411 vehicles in South Africa, enough to see it rank a solid seventh on the list of best-selling automotive brands in the country for the month. Fast-forward exactly seven years and the Japanese firm finds itself languishing in 17th position, with a mere 350 units sold in February 2022.

Of course, comparing two seemingly random months in isolation seldom paints an entirely accurate picture (factors such as broader market conditions and model lifecycles are often at play, after all), but the difference, in this case, is downright stark and certainly not limited to these two specific reporting periods.

Wind back the clock further still and you’ll get an idea of just how far Honda has fallen. The SC9-generation Ballade, for example, was the country’s third best-selling car in 1987, outranking the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Escort on the sales charts, and helping Honda – a company that traces its origins all the way back to 1946 – forge close connections with many South African car buyers.

Honda’s popularity on local shores continued through the 1990s, again thanks to strong contributions from the Ballade (in SH4, SR4, EG and finally EK guise), with the firm regularly grabbing a reassuringly chunky slice of the market-share pie. Then, in 2000, the South African division’s local collaboration with Mercedes-Benz ended and it became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Honda Motor Company.

This was incidentally also around the time the Ballade nameplate began its decade-long hiatus from the market (opening the door for the Jazz to effectively become the volume-driving face of the brand), after more than 170 000 examples spanning six generations were sold in South Africa. The Ballade badge returned in 2011 but by then many South Africans had seemingly moved on. A fresh version arrived in 2014, before the current Ballade hit the market in 2020.

A deep dive into Honda’s sales figures

Right, that’s enough Honda history. Let’s take a gander at the figures from our two reporting periods: February 2015 and February 2022. In the second month of 2015, the Ballade contributed 330 units to Honda’s total of 1 411 registrations, with only the Brio (468 units) managing to better its effort. The Jazz, meanwhile, added a useful 328 units, while the CR-V chipped in with 170 units. The Mobilio (75 units), Civic (33 units) and Accord (seven units) made up the numbers.

Of course, three vehicles from the class of 2015 have since been axed. Production of the original Brio ceased in India late in 2018 (forcing Honda Motor Southern Africa to rely on the Amaze sedan), while the seven-seater Mobilio’s brief stay ended late in 2016, when it was effectively replaced by the closely related BR-V. The Accord, meanwhile, quietly exited the market the very same year, going the way of so many D-segment sedans before it.

Honda’s total of 350 units in February 2022, meanwhile, saw it slip to an overall market share of just 0.79% (compared to, for example, Suzuki’s 7.33%, Haval’s 4.64% and Mahindra’s 2.44%). Narrow that down to the passenger-vehicle market and the result isn’t all that much better, with the Japanese firm settling for a mere 1.18%. It’s also worth pointing out that 114 of Honda’s 350 registrations in February 2022 represented sales to the government, with a further 50 units coming courtesy of the rental channel.

In the second month of 2022, the Amaze (123) was Honda’s strongest seller, just ahead of the Ballade (109), with the former boosted by 50 rental sales and the latter by 99 government sales. With the Jazz nameplate having been given the boot, the new Fit could muster only 34 units, with the Civic and WR-V each managing 23 units. The CR-V (19), HR-V (15) and BR-V (4) completed what was a dire picture.

www.cars.co.za

What has happened to Honda SA? A look at sales figures

In the not too distant past, Honda was considered a mainstream brand in South Africa. The sales figures, however, suggest that’s not been the case for quite some time. Let’s take a look at what’s happened to Honda and what could be in its future… Back in February 2015, Honda registered a healthy...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
Honda is properly clueless, their model offering does not suit the South African market and their cars are too expensive.
 
Soaring bakkie sales in February as SA records highest figure since March 2021

• February 2022 saw the greatest sales figure of new vehicles in South Africa since March 2021.

• The Toyota Hilux was a top-seller again as 3 503 units found new owners.

• A total of 12 290 light commercial vehicles were sold in February 2022.

February 2022 was a stellar month for new vehicle sales in South Africa. For the first time since March 2021, the highest sales figure was recorded since the market was overrun by Covid-19. It is undoubtedly a good sign for the year ahead.

Lebogang Gaoaketse (cor), Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank, says: "Consumer demand was strong during February, particularly for new vehicles as opposed to used, borne out by WesBank's 14.2% increase in finance applications for new vehicles alone."

As always, the passenger car market took care of the lion's share of sales in the country, followed by light commercial vehicles (LCVs). The latter includes bakkies. Last month, 12 290 LCVs were sold in South Africa, an increase of 9.4% over February 2021. Versus January 2022, LCV sales saw a 27.7% or 2 666 unit increase in February.

In all, this can only bode well for the year ahead.

www.news24.com

Soaring bakkie sales in February as SA records highest figure since March 2021 | Life

South Africa's new-vehicle market continued to surge ahead during February 2022, recording its best sales month since March last year. Here's how the bakkies fared.
www.news24.com www.news24.com
 
7 best-selling budget sedans in South Africa: February 2022

Is there still a market for a reasonably priced saloon? We’ve sorted through Naamsa’s detailed sales figures to identify the 7 best-selling budget sedans for February 2022…

The reveal of the new Volkswagen Virtus – a booted model that is destined to arrive in South Africa later in 2022 as the new Polo sedan – had us thinking: what’s the current state of the market for budget saloons on local shores?

While bakkies and hatchbacks typically dominate the monthly list of the country’s best-selling new vehicles (with a crossover and SUV appearing here and there), a deeper look at the figures suggests there’s still something of a market for budget-beating sedans, even if it’s not nearly as robust as it once was. A significant slice of that demand, of course, comes courtesy of the ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt etc.) industry, along with the rental and government channels.

So, we sorted through the statistics to pick out South Africa’s 7 best-selling budget saloons for February 2022, with three-box model ranges bearing a starting price of less than R300 000 qualifying for inclusion.

7 best-selling budget sedans in South Africa for February 2022

1. Volkswagen Polo sedan – 818 units

2. Toyota Corolla Quest – 575 units

3. Nissan Almera – 286 units

4. Kia Pegas – 170 units

5. Honda Amaze – 123 units

6. Suzuki Ciaz – 95 units

7. Suzuki Dzire – 65 units

www.cars.co.za

7 best-selling budget sedans in South Africa: February 2022

Is there still a market for a reasonably priced saloon? We’ve sorted through Naamsa’s detailed sales figures to identify the 7 best-selling budget sedans for February 2022… The reveal of the new Volkswagen Virtus – a booted model that is destined to arrive in South Africa later in 2022 as the...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
Ukraine war could have worse impact than pandemic, says VW boss

Interruptions to supply chains “could lead to huge price increases” and “scarcity of energy and inflation"

www.autocar.co.uk

Ukraine war could have worse impact than pandemic, says VW boss | Autocar

Interruptions to supply chains “could lead to huge price increases” and “scarcity of energy and inflation"
www.autocar.co.uk www.autocar.co.uk
 
Who’s winning the small crossover sales race in SA?

Small crossovers have become big business in South Africa and the sales battle towards the summit of the segment is closer than ever. Let’s take a look at how the top performers have fared in 2022 so far…

Not many automotive segments have enjoyed anything even approaching appreciable growth over the past couple of years in South Africa, but there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest (despite the relatively diminutive stature of the vehicles in question). Yes, we’re talking about the entry-level crossover corner of the market.

A few short years back, your options when shopping for a pint-sized crossover were exceedingly limited. But that’s no longer the case. While Indian-built, sub-four-metre crossovers dominate this part of the market by sheer number, there’s also a popular model imported from Europe (and a progressively popular one from China, too). In short, buyers are spoiled for choice.

So, what happened in the first two months of 2022? Well, we’ve rummaged through Naamsa’s detailed sales figures, applied a little basic arithmetic and identified the strongest year-to-date sellers in this broader category.

10 best-selling small crossovers in South Africa: January and February 2022

1. Toyota Urban Cruiser – 2 381 units

2. Volkswagen T-Cross – 1 771 units

3. Haval Jolion – 1 599 units

4. Ford EcoSport – 1 394 units

5. Suzuki Vitara Brezza – 1 222 units

6. Hyundai Venue – 1 108 units

7. Nissan Magnite – 781 units

8. Renault Kiger – 721 units

9. Kia Sonet – 312 units

10. Honda WR-V – 73 units

www.cars.co.za

Who's winning the small crossover sales race in SA?

Small crossovers have become big business in South Africa and the sales battle towards the summit of the segment is closer than ever. Let’s take a look at how the top performers have fared in 2022 so far… Not many automotive segments have enjoyed anything even approaching appreciable growth over...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
No mention of import and ad velorem duties in the article, which is the biggest problem.

www.itnewsafrica.com

Incentives to Buy Electric Vehicles on the Cards for South Africans - IT News Africa

Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), a research organisation that facilitates policy development and dialogue across trade and industrial policy, conducting research on inequality and economic inclusion, and sustainable growth, is currently researching the possibility of rolling out...
www.itnewsafrica.com www.itnewsafrica.com


“Based on Barnes et al., the incentive is recommended to be set at $5,306.12 (R80,000) for BEVs, $2,652.93 (R40,000) for PHEVs, and $1,326.49 (R20,000) for HEVs. These are the levels of incentivisation required to meaningfully support the transition to EV consumption in the highly price-sensitive first two quintiles of the South African market, and to encourage EV consumption in the more expensive, less price-sensitive market segments,” the TIPS report read.
 
Which Bakkie is SA’s Best-Selling Double Cab?

What was the best-selling double-cab bakkie in South Africa in 2021? The Naamsa figures we lay our paws on each month don’t provide this level of detail, but we’ve finally managed to uncover the answer…

Every month, we endeavour to bring you a list of South Africa’s top-selling bakkies. But there’s a question that’s often left unanswered: which is the most popular double-cab bakkie?

Well, since Naamsa’s detailed sales figures – as difficult as they are to obtain – don’t include a breakdown of the various bakkie body styles, we’ve had to find another way to bring you this intriguing information. So, thanks to our learned friends over at Lightstone Auto, we’re now able to shed a little light on the matter.

According to Lightstone Auto, out of the 100 039 bakkies sold in South Africa in 2021, more than half (54 977 units, to be precise) took the form of double-cab models. And it was the Toyota Hilux – once again SA’s best-selling vehicle range overall – that won the double-cab sales race, with 17 171 registrations during the year, representing a hefty 31.2% of the dual-cab market.

www.cars.co.za

Which Bakkie is SA's Best-Selling Double Cab?

What was the best-selling double-cab bakkie in South Africa in 2021? We’ve finally managed to uncover the answer...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
How will the Russia-Ukraine War affect SA car buyers?

The past few years have proven exceptionally challenging for the car industry. Now there’s another crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war and it has affected the production of a simple yet vital component called the wiring harness.

The car industry has been reeling for the past two years. First there were the Covid-19-triggered lockdowns, which disrupted countless businesses and their supply chains due to the shutdown of factories and ports. That was followed by microchip shortages that have impeded car manufacturers’ outputs… Many had to cut 10 to 20 percent of their production because they couldn’t get hold of enough of these tiny – but vital – components. Suffice to say the global car market was in a tailspin.

Recently, it looked like things were returning to normal; the chip shortage was easing and carmakers were looking forward to some sort of stability, until Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Another tailspin!

At the heart of the problem lies a decidedly unsexy automotive part known as the wiring harness. Modern cars contain kilometres of wiring (especially those equipped with a lot of technology). The wiring harness holds and guides the wires to where they need to go. When the rest of the car is stripped away, it looks like the human body’s system of veins or nerves – wiring goes everywhere.

www.cars.co.za

How will the Russia-Ukraine War affect SA car buyers?

The past few years have proven exceptionally challenging for the car industry. Now there’s another crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war and it has affected the production of a simple yet vital component called the wiring harness. The car industry has been reeling for the past two years. First there...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
South African Used Car Market Insights 2021 vs 2020

The past two years have been a period of chaos for the SA motoring industry. We look at the numbers to see where consumers are shopping.

It’s been a bumpy couple of years for the South African motor industry, with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and stock shortages exacerbating an already bleak situation underpinned by a poor-performing local economy. But the automotive sector is nothing if not resilient.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The used car “sweet-spot” in 2021 remained a vehicle priced between R200 000 and R300 000, with a mileage of just over 100 000km and first registered around three years ago.
  • Partially due to weaker stock availability (and other market factors), more buyers are acquiring higher-mileage vehicles and at higher prices.
  • At a brand level, most South Africans are loyal to established names, but there are signs that the German premium brands are receding, while Chinese brand Haval is on the rise.
  • At a model level, South Africans’ demand for old favourites remains strong, while some models (such as Nissan’s long-serving NP200) are growing in popularity. The highest new entry on the model ranking list is Haval’s smash-hit Jolion small crossover.
The latest data released by leading motoring portal Cars.co.za provides some fascinating insights into the year that was 2021.

www.cars.co.za

South African Used Car Market Insights 2021 vs 2020

The past two years have been a period of chaos for the SA motoring industry. We look at the numbers to see where consumers are shopping. It’s been a bumpy couple of years for the South African motor industry, with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and stock shortages exacerbating an already...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za

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