The SA Vehicle Industry Thread

Chery jumps Nissan! SA’s best-selling brands in August 2024

South Africa’s new-vehicle market registered a 4.9% year-on-year drop in sales in August 2024. Here’s your market overview, including Mzansi’s most popular brands…

South Africa’s new-vehicle market failed to sustain the smidgen of growth it achieved in July 2024, with sales falling 4.9% year on year to 43 588 units in August 2024. To rub salt into the proverbial wounds, August’s effort furthermore represented a 1.4% decrease compared to the prior month.

Exports, meanwhile, plummeted 34.3% year on year to 28 073 units in August 2024, though industry representative body Naamsa pointed out that the corresponding month in 2023 was the highest of that year. Year to date, that puts new-vehicle exports some 16.8% below the same period in 2023.

1. Toyota – 10 656 units

2. Volkswagen Group – 5 645 units

3. Suzuki – 5 131 units

4. Ford – 2 960 units

5. Hyundai – 2 721 units

6. Isuzu – 1 961 units

7. Chery – 1 626 units

8. Nissan – 1 621 units

9. GWM – 1 608 units

10. Renault – 1 367 units

 
Toyota Starlet Cross cracks top 5! SA’s best-selling cars & crossovers

In its first full month on sale, the Toyota Starlet Cross placed a lofty 5th on the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling cars and crossovers. Here are August 2024’s figures…

Despite being a fresh entrant to the market, the new Toyota Starlet Cross managed to break into the top 5 of South Africa’s best-selling cars and crossovers in August 2024, slotting in just ahead of the locally built Volkswagen Polo hatchback.

To refresh your memory, Toyota SA Motors’ most-affordable crossover hit the market just 10 days before the end of July 2024 yet managed to rack up 590 sales in that short time. So, how did it perform in its first full month on the market?

Well, Toyota registered as many as 1 181 units of the new Starlet Cross in August 2024, enough for it to place 5th on the list of Mzansi’s best-selling passenger vehicles for the month. Almost all sales came via the dealer channel, with only 13 units listed as “single” registrations (vehicles the automaker keeps and licenses for its own use).

Interestingly, while the new Cross-badged model rocketed up the sales charts, the Starlet hatchback – which placed a healthy 4th in July – fell clean from the top 10 in August, with its sales tally dropping 31.1% month on month to 842 units.

As a reminder, the Indian-built Starlet Cross – which is based on the Suzuki Fronx (which managed 724 units in August) – is positioned as Toyota SA Motors’ most-affordable crossover, undercutting the Urban Cruiser by R42 600, with the 4-strong local line-up starting at R299 900 and running through to R359 300.

In August 2024, SA’s new-vehicle market declined 4.9% year on year to 43 588 units. That said, the new passenger-vehicle segment grew 3.1% year on year to 30 022 units, with some help from the car-rental industry (which accounted for 16.7% of that figure last month).

SA’s 10 best-selling cars and crossovers in August 2024

1. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 1 937 units

2. Toyota Corolla Cross – 1 630 units

3. Hyundai Grand i10 (excluding LCV) – 1 328 units

4. Suzuki Swift – 1 190 units

5. Toyota Starlet Cross – 1 181 units

6. Volkswagen Polo (hatch) – 1 149 units

7. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro – 1 072 units

8. Nissan Magnite – 991 units

9. Haval Jolion – 953 units

10. Suzuki Ertiga – 892 units

 
SA vehicle sales hit speed bump in August, but budget cars soaring

There are good times ahead for the motor industry, many analysts have predicted, but August’s new vehicle sales performance was something of a speed bump on that road.

According to figures released by Naamsa, the Automotive Business Council, new vehicle sales in August amounted to 43,588 units, which was a 4.9% decline compared with the same month last year.

But that picture was largely skewed by softer demand for bakkies, with the light commercial vehicle total of 10,709 being 21.5% lower than July last year.

The passenger car market actually grew by 3.1% year-on-year, to 30,022 units, buoyed by strong rental industry demand, which accounted for 16.7% of the total.

Naamsa expects the automotive sales picture to improve over the remainder of 2024, as lower inflation, decreasing fuel prices and positive economic sentiment all combine to improve consumer sentiment.

Top 50 vehicle sales: August 2024
1. Toyota Hilux - 2,527
2. Ford Ranger - 2,312
3. Volkswagen Polo Vivo - 1,937
4. Isuzu D-Max - 1,634
5. Toyota Corolla Cross - 1,630
6. Hyundai Grand i10 - 1,328
7. Suzuki Swift - 1,190
8. Toyota Starlet Cross - 1,181
9. Volkswagen Polo - 1,149
10. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro - 1,072
11. Nissan Magnite - 991
12. Haval Jolion - 953
13. Suzuki Ertiga - 892
14. Toyota Starlet - 842
15. Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up - 780
16. Toyota Fortuner - 760
17. Kia Sonet - 750
18. Suzuki Fronx - 724
19. Toyota Urban Cruiser - 669
20. Renault Kiger - 620
21. Suzuki Baleno - 604
22. Volkswagen Polo Sedan - 551
23. Renault Kwid - 512
24. Hyundai i20 - 484
25. Nissan Navara - 468
26. Toyota Hi-Ace - 451
27. Toyota Vitz - 432
28. Toyota Corolla Quest - 413
29. Volkswagen Amarok - 346
30. Chery Tiggo 7 Pro - 345
31. Toyota Rumion - 326
32. Haval H6 - 292
33. Omoda C5 - 290
34. Suzuki Jimny - 284
35. Suzuki S-Presso - 284
36. Volkswagen T-Cross - 277
37. Hyundai Venue - 264
38. Suzuki Grand Vitara - 260
39. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado - 248
40. Ford Territory - 246
41. Toyota Land Cruiser PU - 234
42. Ford Everest - 229
43. Suzuki Dzire - 217
44. Suzuki Ciaz - 215
45. Chery Tiggo 8 Pro - 209
46. GWM P-Series 205
47. Renault Triber - 197
48. Hyundai H100 Bakkie - 194
49. Jaecoo J7 - 178
50. Kia Picanto - 174

 
FiestaST said:
Toyota Starlet Cross cracks top 5! SA’s best-selling cars & crossovers

In its first full month on sale, the Toyota Starlet Cross placed a lofty 5th on the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling cars and crossovers. Here are August 2024’s figures…

Despite being a fresh entrant to the market, the new Toyota Starlet Cross managed to break into the top 5 of South Africa’s best-selling cars and crossovers in August 2024, slotting in just ahead of the locally built Volkswagen Polo hatchback.

To refresh your memory, Toyota SA Motors’ most-affordable crossover hit the market just 10 days before the end of July 2024 yet managed to rack up 590 sales in that short time. So, how did it perform in its first full month on the market?

Well, Toyota registered as many as 1 181 units of the new Starlet Cross in August 2024, enough for it to place 5th on the list of Mzansi’s best-selling passenger vehicles for the month. Almost all sales came via the dealer channel, with only 13 units listed as “single” registrations (vehicles the automaker keeps and licenses for its own use).

Interestingly, while the new Cross-badged model rocketed up the sales charts, the Starlet hatchback – which placed a healthy 4th in July – fell clean from the top 10 in August, with its sales tally dropping 31.1% month on month to 842 units.

As a reminder, the Indian-built Starlet Cross – which is based on the Suzuki Fronx (which managed 724 units in August) – is positioned as Toyota SA Motors’ most-affordable crossover, undercutting the Urban Cruiser by R42 600, with the 4-strong local line-up starting at R299 900 and running through to R359 300.

In August 2024, SA’s new-vehicle market declined 4.9% year on year to 43 588 units. That said, the new passenger-vehicle segment grew 3.1% year on year to 30 022 units, with some help from the car-rental industry (which accounted for 16.7% of that figure last month).

SA’s 10 best-selling cars and crossovers in August 2024

1. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 1 937 units

2. Toyota Corolla Cross – 1 630 units

3. Hyundai Grand i10 (excluding LCV) – 1 328 units

4. Suzuki Swift – 1 190 units

5. Toyota Starlet Cross – 1 181 units

6. Volkswagen Polo (hatch) – 1 149 units

7. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro – 1 072 units

8. Nissan Magnite – 991 units

9. Haval Jolion – 953 units

10. Suzuki Ertiga – 892 units

Click to expand...

Starlet Cross definitely stealing Corolla Cross sales.

If you know where to look, a Corolla Cross XS with leather can still be had for R404k. That's only about R30k more than the burgundy cloth interior of the Starlet Cross XR. If people knew that, I'm sure the sales numbers would be further apart.
 
Insight: Chinese car brands claiming a bigger slice in South Africa’s new vehicles market

In a relatively short space of time, Chinese vehicles have made significant inroads into the South African market.

Haval and Chery vehicles have become a common sight on our roads and it seems almost every second week there’s a new Chinese brand vying for a slice of the pie.

But have their sales figures grown sufficiently to keep the chief executives of rival manufacturers up at night?

According to figures released by Lightstone, vehicles from Chinese brands account for 2% of light vehicle sales in South Africa in 2019. Just five years later, that number has grown to 9%, so far in 2024.

While an increasing array of new brands are entering the fray, including recent entrants like GAC and LDV and imminent introductions such as Chery-owned Jetour, the market is still dominated by two main players.

Chery and GWM, including the latter’s Haval brand, currently account for 88% of Chinese branded light vehicle sales in South Africa. Back in 2019 GWM and Haval owned 96% of that space.

Standard Bank says it has seen a consistent year-on-year increase in finance applications for new Chinese cars since 2022. Its data shows the proportion of Chinese car brands having increased from just over 6% in 2022 to 7.4% in the first half of 2024.

This increasing share must be seen in the context of an overall decline in demand for new vehicles in the country.

 
FiestaST said:
SA vehicle sales hit speed bump in August, but budget cars soaring

There are good times ahead for the motor industry, many analysts have predicted, but August’s new vehicle sales performance was something of a speed bump on that road.

According to figures released by Naamsa, the Automotive Business Council, new vehicle sales in August amounted to 43,588 units, which was a 4.9% decline compared with the same month last year.

But that picture was largely skewed by softer demand for bakkies, with the light commercial vehicle total of 10,709 being 21.5% lower than July last year.

The passenger car market actually grew by 3.1% year-on-year, to 30,022 units, buoyed by strong rental industry demand, which accounted for 16.7% of the total.

Naamsa expects the automotive sales picture to improve over the remainder of 2024, as lower inflation, decreasing fuel prices and positive economic sentiment all combine to improve consumer sentiment.

Top 50 vehicle sales: August 2024
1. Toyota Hilux - 2,527
2. Ford Ranger - 2,312
3. Volkswagen Polo Vivo - 1,937
4. Isuzu D-Max - 1,634
5. Toyota Corolla Cross - 1,630
6. Hyundai Grand i10 - 1,328
7. Suzuki Swift - 1,190
8. Toyota Starlet Cross - 1,181
9. Volkswagen Polo - 1,149
10. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro - 1,072
11. Nissan Magnite - 991
12. Haval Jolion - 953
13. Suzuki Ertiga - 892
14. Toyota Starlet - 842
15. Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up - 780
16. Toyota Fortuner - 760
17. Kia Sonet - 750
18. Suzuki Fronx - 724
19. Toyota Urban Cruiser - 669
20. Renault Kiger - 620
21. Suzuki Baleno - 604
22. Volkswagen Polo Sedan - 551
23. Renault Kwid - 512
24. Hyundai i20 - 484
25. Nissan Navara - 468
26. Toyota Hi-Ace - 451
27. Toyota Vitz - 432
28. Toyota Corolla Quest - 413
29. Volkswagen Amarok - 346
30. Chery Tiggo 7 Pro - 345
31. Toyota Rumion - 326
32. Haval H6 - 292
33. Omoda C5 - 290
34. Suzuki Jimny - 284
35. Suzuki S-Presso - 284
36. Volkswagen T-Cross - 277
37. Hyundai Venue - 264
38. Suzuki Grand Vitara - 260
39. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado - 248
40. Ford Territory - 246
41. Toyota Land Cruiser PU - 234
42. Ford Everest - 229
43. Suzuki Dzire - 217
44. Suzuki Ciaz - 215
45. Chery Tiggo 8 Pro - 209
46. GWM P-Series 205
47. Renault Triber - 197
48. Hyundai H100 Bakkie - 194
49. Jaecoo J7 - 178
50. Kia Picanto - 174

Click to expand...

Anybody where to find the full list - i.e not just the top 50?
 
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