The SA Vehicle Industry Thread

South Africa's 10 best-selling bakkies of May 2020

The sales figures for May 2020 are in ... and the battle for the title of South Africa’s best-selling bakkie continues as the country’s automotive industry gets back up on its feet.

According to Naamsa, May’s new-vehicle industry sales came in at 12 932 units, representing a 68 percent fall compared with the corresponding month in 2019, thanks to the COVID-19 global pandemic and the country’s hard lockdown. The light commercial segment, meanwhile, showed a 74,8 percent drop to just 3 073 units compared with May 2019.

So, what exactly happened in terms of bakkie sales? Well, after opting not to release South Africa’s individual model sales figures for March and April, Naamsa says it has included this information “for this month only” before it switches to a new subscription-based model from July.

South Africa’s 10 best-selling bakkies of May 2020:

1. Toyota Hilux – 796
2. Isuzu D-Max – 611
3. Ford Ranger – 538
4. Nissan NP200 – 163
5. Nissan NP300/Hardbody – 141
6. Mahindra Pik Up – 111
7. Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-up – 86
8. Volkswagen Amarok – 67
9. GWM Steed – 48
10. Mahindra Bolero – 22

 
South Africa's 10 best-selling passenger cars of May 2020

According to Naamsa, South Africa's May 2020 new-vehicle sales came in at 12 932 units, representing a 68 percent fall compared with the corresponding month in 2019, thanks to the COVID-19 global pandemic and the country’s hard lockdown. So, what happened in the passenger vehicle segment (be sure to check out our list of best-selling bakkies, too)?

Firstly, take note that some brands – including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Haval and (latterly) Opel – provide only aggregate data. Also, we should point out that after opting not to release SA’s individual model sales figures for March and April, Naamsa says it has included this information “for this month only” before it switches to a new subscription-based model from July.

Anyway, the locally built Volkswagen Polo was the country’s top seller in May 2020, with 668 units registered. The Polo Vivo was second, a mere 32 units behind.

The Hyundai Grand i10 (421) grabbed third place, while the T-Cross (300) and Polo Sedan (291) rounded out a top five positively dominated by the Wolfsburg-based firm. The new Suzuki S-Presso (283) made an immediate impact by taking sixth, while Hyundai’s i20 (265) and Tucson (235) placed seventh and eighth, respectively.

The Renault Kwid (212) was down in ninth, while the Volkswagen Tiguan (203) nabbed the final spot on the table.

South Africa’s 10 best-selling passenger cars of May 2020

1. Volkswagen Polo hatchback – 668
2. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 636
3. Hyundai Grand i10 – 421
4. Volkswagen T-Cross – 300
5. Volkswagen Polo Sedan – 291
6. Suzuki S-Presso – 283
7. Hyundai i20 – 265
8. Hyundai Tucson – 235
9. Renault Kwid – 212
10. Volkswagen Tiguan – 203

 
SA vehicle sales plunged by 68 percent versus May last year

Following April’s hard lockdown that all but obliterated local car sales, the South African motor industry slowly chugged back to life in May, with dealers and manufacturers reopening in a phased approach.

However, given the current economic turmoil and the fact that dealers only opened their doors on May 13, it was always going to be a slow sales month. A total of 27 496 new vehicles were sold in South Africa in May, which is a 68 percent decline versus the same month last year.

Similarly, export sales fell by 64 percent, although Naamsa notes that this was to be expected given that many of South Africa’s vehicle manufacturers only resumed operations at the beginning of June.

Light commercial vehicles took the biggest hit on the local sales charts last month, with a year-on-year decline of 74.8 percent, while passenger cars registered a decline of 65.4 percent versus May last year.

However, as is usually the case, South Africa’s top selling vehicle was a bakkie, with Toyota’s Hilux registering 796 sales. It was followed by the Volkswagen Polo (668) and Polo Vivo (636), while SA’s second most popular bakkie in May was the Isuzu D-Max, which managed to oust the Ford Ranger, with 611 sales versus 538.

 
The May sales have left a lot of red ink on the table.
Of course sales have seen their grenadelsh.... big time!!!!!!

But please consider this:
Suzuki S-Presso sold 283
Datsun Go and Go+ only 35
Renault Kwid reported 212.

That's the bottom end of the market. How the hell is the huge stockpile of units standing all over the place being financed?
I'm sure that dealers and OEMs must have stock coming out of their ears.
To make matters worse, there are new models waiting in the wings that have to be sold but surely can't be launched until old models are run out.

HKGK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm wondering where are the massive deals to clear stock?
 
SA vehicle sales | Major upturn in events as Hilux, D-Max and Ranger go top of the bakkie log


Sales.png
 
New Cars Sales in SA: May 2020

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) has released new vehicle sales figures for May 2020. Take a look at what transpired under Level 4 Lockdown…
Stringent safety measures have been put into place across the board to ensure that the automotive sector can resume operations safely under Level 3 regulations. Manufacturers are ramping up production and dealers are now open for business.

As is to be expected, new car sales statistics still reflect significant declines in May 2020 but there has been a notable uptick from April’s numbers. In May 2020, new vehicle sales declined by 68% compared with May 2019 while exports also took a major knock with a decline of 64.1%.

Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank commented “These low levels of activity are no surprise,” continues Gaoaketse. “While we expect a slow resurgence of activity, necessary access to repairs and maintenance will have been appreciated by consumers and businesses alike. The move to Alert Level 3 from today (June 1) will begin to provide more general access to dealer facilities and trade.”

“These May volumes are reassuring given the slow resumption of activity during the month from such an unprecedented circumstance. With a full month of sales ahead and more freedom within Alert Level 3 regulations, we will begin to understand what the new normal level of activity will be in the new vehicle market.”

New Car Sales Summary: May 2020

- Aggregate new vehicle sales at 12 932 units down by 68% (-27 496 units) compared with May 2019

- New passenger car sales of 9 019 units down by 65.4% (-17 083 units) compared with May 2019

- Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales of 3 073 units down by 74.8% (-9 128 units) compared with May 2019

- Exports of 10 819 units down by 64.1% (-19 333 units) compared with May 2020

 
Vehicle market to remain tough for the foreseeable future, carmakers say

It's no secret that Covid-19 will have the last say in consumer spending across all platforms and most notably so when it comes to large purchases like vehicles.

Peugeot Citroen South Africa, one of our many vehicle importers, are gearing themselves up for a situation that's likely to be with us for some time still.

"I believe we’ll see some downward buying, with A segment, B Segment, particularly B SUVs becoming more popular," says Brian Smith General Manager Sales and Marketing.

"The market will be tough, due largely to the impact of the pandemic, but there will be opportunities, interest rates are very low at present and consumers can secure a great deal upfront, and keep repayments down.

"Generally, we believe we will see even more of the buying process proceed digitally and remotely, with a large part of the sales process being handled via the internet, email or telephone, we’ll also see an uptake in off-site test drives and deliveries."

 
South Africa’s double-cab bakkie sales race: the stats after May 2020

It’s a question we’re often asked but seldom able to answer. Who’s winning the double-cab bakkie sales race in South Africa?

Now, however, thanks to our friends over at Lightstone Auto (via our sister publication, Leisure Wheels), we’re able to shed some light on the matter.

While the sales figures released by Naamsa don’t include a breakdown of the various bakkie body styles, a record is indeed kept. And, according to Lightstone Auto, the Toyota Hilux is leading the double-cab pack in 2020 (a year admittedly ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic) so far, with 4 421 units registered.

Ford’s Ranger is next with 4 159 double-cab units, while Isuzu’s D-Max (including a handful of KB-badged examples sold before the switch to the aforementioned moniker) completes the podium with 1 566 units.

 
How South Africa's car dealerships are adapting ways of conducting business in the 'new normal'

• National dealers looking at life post Covid-19

• Immediate aim is to secure safe space for buyers and staff

• Steps laid out in reporting a positive Covid-19 case

Mark Dommisse, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers' Association (NADA), shares his views on a recent webinar about matters affecting auto retail business.

Preparedness and the willingness of employees to adapt to new ways of doing business are getting the wheels of the retail motor business turning again.

This follows a period of enforced total lockdown and a gradual return to operations.

The other panellists on this webinar, which was watched by more than 250 people, were Ryan Seele, the managing director of the Mortimer Motor Group, and Ward Huxtable, dealer principal at Combined Motor Holdings and chairman of the Ford Dealer Council.

 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X