The SA Vehicle Industry Thread

VW Kariega plant opens R235 million wax flooding facility

www.carmag.co.za

VW Kariega plant opens R235 million wax flooding facility

The wax flooding process that enables VWSA to sell their products with a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty has just seen a R235 million upgrade at their plant in Kariega. In addition to the automated process, the new facility reduces carbon emissions by 55% in comparison to before.
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The models driving Opel’s quiet sales growth in SA

At the start of 2022, Opel South Africa was struggling to sell 50 units a month. By July, its monthly figure was 10 times as large. Here’s which models have been driving this impressive growth…

Despite a local heritage stretching all the way back to the 1930s, Opel has endured a tough few years in South Africa. So tough, in fact, that fewer than 50 units were registered here in January 2022 (a fact perhaps amplified by the sort of global supply constraints experienced by many automakers).

However, it seems the German brand has finally turned a corner in South Africa, with sales growing steadily every couple of months in 2022. While just 44 units were sold in South Africa in January, that figure doubled to a still relatively paltry 88 in February.

Despite a slight dip to 75 registrations in March, Opel finally crossed back into three figures in April, selling 141 vehicles across the country. That tally more than doubled to 317 units in May before growing another 100% to 633 units in June. July was another fairly strong month, with 497 units registered.

Breaking down Opel’s sales figures in South Africa

So, which models have been driving this growth? Interestingly, the sixth-generation Corsa and the facelifted Crossland have been doing much of the heavy lifting for the Rüsselsheim-based automaker.

The Corsa (514 units) dominated June’s total of 633 units, though 250 of those sales came courtesy of the rental channel. The Crossland (87 units) was next, with the new Mokka (21 units), Grandland X (5 units), Vivaro panel van (5 units) and Combo Life (1 unit) making up the numbers.

In July, however, the Crossland (207 units) outsold the Corsa (200), despite the latter benefitting from 105 registrations in the rental space. The light-commercial Combo contributed 42 units and the Mokka 35 units, while the Zafira (6 units), Combo Life (3 units), Grandland X (2 units) and Vivaro (2 units) were all stuck in single figures.

www.cars.co.za

The models driving Opel's quiet sales growth in SA

At the start of 2022, Opel was struggling to sell 50 units a month in South Africa. By July, its monthly figure was 10 times as large.
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Chery South Africa joins top 10 after positive performance in July

A decade ago, the thought of Chery being included on a list for top 10 passenger automakers in South Africa would have raised some eyebrows but the rebirthed Chinese brand managed this feat for the first time in July of 2022.

Courtesy of 1 262 vehicle sales during the month, Chery South Africa claimed eighth place in the passenger vehicle segment locally and thirteenth overall. These numbers in detail are as follows:

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro – 689
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro – 372
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro – 201

According to the sales, the automaker reports that the Tiggo 7 Pro and the flagship Tiggo 8 Pro rank first in both of their respective segments based on the July 2022 sales charts provided by naamsa. Despite the dotted history of the brand in our local market, this is a truly impressive feat considering they officially reentered with the Tiggo 4 Pro in November last year.

www.carmag.co.za

Chery South Africa joins top 10 after positive performance in July

A decade ago, the thought of Chery being included on a list for top 10 passenger automakers in South Africa would have raised some eyebrows but the rebirthed Chinese brand managed this feat for the first time in July of 2022.
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
I find the sales surge of Haval and Chery fascinating and decided to spend some time and effort on learning about the Haval ownership experience, because it's easy to save a ton of money and buy a fully loaded car, but what is the after sales like?

Every brand has their bad press and stories, but after doing 90min of solid HAVAL research on Hello Peter, Facebook groups, Cars.co.za youtube comments etc, it seems Haval have a major parts supply issue. There were multiple people saying that their vehicle was in for bodyworks and they had been waiting for months for parts to arrive and those parts that did arrive, were broken. 1 guy had to ask the bodyshop to spray the new chrome H4/H6 grill black so that the damage on the new part was erased and he could get his vehicle back - the 3rd grill to arrive damaged from Haval!

It's those sort of horror stories that are not shared by your solid established car brands and that is a deal breaker. I also saw A LOT of high fuel consumption moans - not much power but a massive thirst.

I'll stick to my bang for buck Chinese phone which I classify as disposable, but will rather stick to an established car brand even though they may lack some inside toys, bells and whistles.....
 
MikeaMatrix said:
Interesting to see Suzuki sales figures. Wonder if that takes into account Toyota Urban cruisers, since its just a rebadged Vitara Brezza.
Click to expand...
No, Suzuki is Suzuki, so only Suzukis are included, same way Volkswagen won't be counting the Ford Ranger in the sales numbers.

They are indeed having a good run, which is surprising since their cars a little but underwhelming.
 
Toyota South Africa is here to stay, come hell or high water

On 12 April 2022, the Toyota South Africa Motors Prospecton manufacturing plant just south of Durban was shut down. Devastating floods in the area brought not only water but fine clay-like mud, which covered just about every area of the plant.

Relentless and resilient, Toyota, its employees and the community stepped up and started cleaning as soon as they could. This week saw the plant reopen its manufacturing lines just a few months after the plant was shut. We were there.

The Call

What do you do when you get a call in the early hours of the morning informing you that one of the most important automotive manufacturing facilities in the Southern Hemisphere has been flooded? In some areas, the muddy water was a meter high, with vehicles both unfinished and fully built being submerged. Then there’s all the production lines, the conveyors, the electric controls, and most importantly, the workers, all now dealing with rising water levels.

 
Toyota South Africa Motors announces that KZN Prospection plant fully operational

www.carmag.co.za

Toyota South Africa Motors announces that KZN Prospection plant fully operational

Earlier this year, the KZN region was blindsided by severe flooding that claimed the lives of many and left the area in a state of disarray. Of the many affected, Toyota’s Prospection plant was rendered inoperable after being completely submerged, but now -- months later-- the plant has been...
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How many EVs were sold in SA in the first half of 2022?

Just how many electric vehicles were registered in South Africa in the first half of 2022? Let’s take a closer look at the official figures…

South Africa’s new-car market includes more electric vehicles (EVs) than ever before. So, just how popular are these battery-powered vehicles locally? Well, in its quarterly review of business conditions for the South African automotive industry, Naamsa lists some very interesting figures.

Before we dive in, we should bear in mind there is currently no truly affordable EV on the local market, with the least expensive option being the Mini Cooper SE Hatch 3-door, which kicks off at a lofty R723 000. Every other full-size electric vehicle currently available in SA is priced in seven figures (with the highest base price being that of the R4 134 000 Porsche Taycan Turbo S).

According to Naamsa, 205 electric vehicles were registered in South Africa in the first half of 2022 (that translates to a mere 0.08% of the industry total of 253 442 vehicles). Interestingly, 112 units were sold in the opening quarter, with 93 units registered across April, May and June. For some context, a total of 218 EVs were sold in SA in 2021.

www.cars.co.za

How many EVs were sold in SA in the first half of 2022?

Just how many electric vehicles were registered in South Africa in the first half of 2022? Let’s take a closer look at the official figures…
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Rising interest rates hike up car payments, but depreciation’s the killer

Interest rates and car prices are up, but at least vehicle depreciation is lower than usual. Rule one of buying a car through a vehicle finance agreement is to ensure that you’ll be able to make your payments easily, but rule two – minimise the risk of steep depreciation by choosing your next vehicle wisely – still applies. Here’s why…

If you have the resources to buy a vehicle cash (provided you choose your purchase carefully – but more about that in a little while), it is undoubtedly the smartest way to own your car. But, of course, few of us have that luxury.

Most South African vehicle purchases are financed and that means you are at the mercy of the market regarding the future cost of your car – a rather expensive “asset” that loses value each month that you are paying off the loan against it.

Buying and owning a car is a balance of financial risk. You can’t control interest rates, but you can buy a car with a lower risk of suffering ruinous depreciation, which matters over the repayment term. It matters a helluva lot.

In an economic climate of rising interest rates, car ownership keeps getting more expensive. And, at the same time, your car is losing value every single day; you don’t need an actuarial degree to understand the problem.

www.cars.co.za

Rising interest rates hike up car payments, but depreciation's the killer

Interest rates and car prices are up, but depreciation is lower than usual. However, it is still important to choose your next car wisely...
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Toyota dominates local sales charts in August 2022

www.carmag.co.za

Toyota dominates local sales charts in August 2022

Toyota has once again topped the sales charts after reaching an equilibrium following the reopening of the flood damaged Prospecton plant which was out of commission for several months. Here is who managed admirable sales over the month of August 2022.
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New vehicle sales remain encouraging: these were the top 10 brands in August 2022

South African new vehicle sales continue to grow at an encouraging rate, with August 2022 seeing a total volume off 47 420 units, which is 14.2% more than the same month last year.

Passenger car sales grew by 14.6% year-on-year, while a resurgent light commercial vehicle market gained 13.1% versus August 2021. Medium commercial vehicles declined by 0.4%, however, while the heavies were up by 20.2%.

86.2% of all new vehicle sales last month took place through the dealer channels, while the rental industry accounted for 8.3%, corporate fleets 4.3% and government 1.2%.

It was an encouraging month for export sales, which increased by 57% year-on-year to 28 662 units. Year-to-date, export sales are now up 5.8% versus the corresponding period in 2021, and that could grow further with the new Ford Ranger emanating from Silverton.

With its Prospecton factory now reopened, Toyota sold more than 10 000 vehicles for the first time since its closure caused by floods earlier this year. Volkswagen followed in second place with 6 630 sales, while Suzuki held onto third spot with a volume of 4 164.

Top-selling brands: August 2022

Toyota - 10 797
Volkswagen - 6 630
Suzuki Auto - 4 164
Hyundai - 3 098
Nissan - 2 644
Renault - 2 350
Ford - 2 341
Isuzu - 1 830
Kia SA - 2 035
Haval - 1 797

 
New vehicle sales in South Africa: August 2022

New vehicle sales summary for August 2022

- Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 47 420 units increased by 14.2% (5 887 units) compared to August 2021.
- New passenger-vehicle sales of 31 269 units increased by 14.6% (3 992 units) compared to August 2021.
- New light-commercial vehicle sales of 13 281 units increased by 13.1% (1 536 units) compared to August 2021.
- Export sales of 28 662 units increased by 57% (10 402 units) compared to August 2021.

10 best-selling car brands in South Africa for August 2022

1. Toyota – 11 138 units

2. Volkswagen Group – 6 693 units

3. Suzuki – 4 164 units

4. Hyundai – 3 129 units

5. Nissan – 2 644 units

6. Renault – 2 350 units

7. Ford – 2 341 units

8. Isuzu – 2 122 units

9. Kia – 2 035 units

10. Haval – 1 797 units

10 best-selling vehicles in South Africa for August 2022

1. Toyota Hilux – 3 417 units

2. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 2 359 units

3. Toyota Urban Cruiser – 1 905 units

4. Ford Ranger – 1 791 units

5. Isuzu D-Max – 1 789 units

6. Nissan NP200 – 1 397 units

7. Suzuki Swift – 1 369 units

8. Volkswagen Polo (hatch) – 1 286 units

9. Toyota Corolla Cross – 1 129 units

10. Toyota Hi-Ace – 1 008 units

Top 5 vehicles exported from South Africa in August 2022

1. Volkswagen Polo (hatch) – 9 129 units

2. Ford Ranger – 6 910 units

3. Toyota Hilux – 3 069 units

4. Nissan Navara – 539 units

5. Isuzu D-Max – 342 units

www.cars.co.za

New vehicle sales in South Africa: August 2022

South Africa’s new-vehicle sales for August 2022 proved “remarkably buoyant”. Here’s what you need to know, including SA’s best-selling cars…
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These were South Africa’s 50 top-selling vehicles in August 2022

SA’S 50 TOP SELLING VEHICLES: AUGUST 2022

  • 1. Toyota Hilux - 3 417
  • 2. Volkswagen Polo Vivo - 2 359
  • 3. Toyota Urban Cruiser - 1 905
  • 4. Ford Ranger - 1 791
  • 5. Isuzu D-Max - 1 789
  • 6. Nissan NP200 - 1 397
  • 7. Suzuki Swift - 1 369
  • 8. Volkswagen Polo - 1 286
  • 9. Toyota Corolla Cross - 1 129
  • 10. Toyota Hi-Ace - 1 008
  • 11. Volkswagen T-Cross - 1 000
  • 12. Renault Kiger - 999
  • 13. Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up - 896
  • 14. Renault Kwid - 824
  • 15. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro - 779
  • 16. Toyota Starlet - 774
  • 17. Haval Jolion - 738
  • 18. Hyundai Venue - 712
  • 19. Suzuki Vitara Brezza - 679
  • 20. Toyota Fortuner - 667
  • 21. Nissan Navara - 661
  • 22. Hyundai Atos - 609
  • 23. Kia Picanto - 592
  • 24. Hyundai Grand i10 - 524
  • 25. Suzuki S-Presso - 483
  • 26. Ford EcoSport - 477
  • 27. Haval H6 - 477
  • 28. Suzuki Baleno - 476
  • 29. GWM Steed - 440
  • 30. Nissan Magnite - 412
  • 31. Toyota Land Cruiser PU - 401
  • 32. Renault Triber - 394
  • 33. Toyota Agya - 377
  • 34. Kia Sonet - 371
  • 35. Volkswagen Taigo - 363
  • 36. Volkswagen Tiguan - 358
  • 37. Suzuki Jimny - 326
  • 38. Chery Tiggo 7 Pro - 321
  • 39. Hyundai i20 - 315
  • 40. Kia Rio - 302
  • 41. Volkswagen T-Roc - 273
  • 42. Suzuki Ertiga - 269
  • 43. Suzuki Dzire - 265
  • 44. Mahindra XUV300 - 255
  • 45. Toyota Prado - 243
  • 46. Mazda CX-5 - 240
  • 47. Hyundai H100 Bakkie - 231
  • 48. Chery Tiggo 8 Pro - 220
  • 49. Kia Pegas - 205
  • 50. Hyundai Creta - 195
 
10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa: August 2022

Is it business as usual again now that Toyota has resumed production of the Hilux in KZN? Let’s take a closer look at South Africa’s best-selling bakkies for August 2022…

After losing its crown for the past few months, the Toyota Hilux is back on top in August 2022. The last time the Prospecton-built bakkie found itself at the summit of the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies was back in April 2022, before the Japanese automaker began to feel the full effects of the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal.

With precisely zero units rolling off the line in Durban for a number of months, the Hilux was forced to settle for second place in May, fourth in June and fourth again in July. Now that the factory is back online and production of the bakkie – as well as the Corolla Cross, Corolla Quest, Fortuner and Hi-Ace – has resumed, the Hilux has shot right back to the top of the sales charts.

As many as 3 417 units of the Hilux were registered around the country in August 2022. The bakkie’s sales resurgence (plus that of the aforementioned Hi-Ace) was at least partially responsible for the 13.1% year-on-year increase in domestic sales of new light-commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini-buses to 13 281 units in August. Expect that trend to continue in the coming months as Toyota starts to clear its considerable backlog of orders (and rolls out the long-awaited GR-Sport derivative).

Despite coming close to matching its sales tally of July 2022, the Silverton-built Ford Ranger (1 791 units) – which will very soon be replaced by the new-generation model – was pushed down to second place. It will be interesting to see what happens with Ranger registrations in the next couple of months as the Dearborn-based firm’s local division makes the transition to the new model.

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa for August 2022

1. Toyota Hilux – 3 417 units

2. Ford Ranger – 1 791 units

3. Isuzu D-Max – 1 789 units

4. Nissan NP200 – 1 397 units

5. Mahindra Pik Up – 896 units

6. Nissan Navara – 661 units

7. GWM Steed – 440 units

8. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 – 401 units

9. GWM P-Series – 138 units

10. Volkswagen Amarok – 128 units

www.cars.co.za

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa: August 2022

Business as usual now that Toyota has resumed production of the Hilux? Let’s take a closer look at SA's best-selling bakkies for August 2022…
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
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