The SA Vehicle Industry Thread

Two-decade low? Here’s how many new vehicles were sold in SA in 2020

Naamsa has revealed new-vehicle sales in South Africa declined some 29,1 percent to 380 449 units in 2020 thanks to the “crippling effects” of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the record, that’s a whopping 156 163 units down on the figure of 536 612 achieved in 2019 and represents the lowest total for some 18 years.

The organisation said vehicle sales were “linked to the strength of the economy”, pointing out the pandemic “not only deepened an existing economic recession” but also saw the domestic new-vehicle market drop to “levels of two decades ago”.

As Naamsa points out, the significant fall in aggregate new-vehicle sales occurred despite a 300-basis point interest-rate cut during 2020 to a near-50-year low.

The vehicle rental industry, which forms a “major seasonal contributor” to the new vehicle market, also effectively remained dormant due to the lockdown restrictions on business travel and tourism for part of the year.

www.carmag.co.za

Two-decade low? Here’s how many new vehicles were sold in SA in 2020...

Naamsa says new-vehicle sales in South Africa declined 29,1 percent to 380 449 units in 2020 thanks to the “crippling effects” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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BMW in South Africa: best- and worst-selling models for Dec 2020

While Naamsa no longer releases individual model sales to the public, we’ve laid our hands on figures for BMW Group South Africa (including Mini) for December 2020.

For the record, the German group registered a total of 752 units in the passenger-vehicle segment for the month. That puts it 13th on the list of best-selling automotive brands for December, or 11th in the passenger-vehicle rankings.

The 3 Series (187) topped the charts for BMW, with the Rosslyn-built X3 next on 86 units. The 2 Series range (comprising both coupé and Gran Coupé models) followed on 75 units, with the 1 Series (70) close behind.

www.carmag.co.za

BMW in South Africa: best- and worst-selling models for Dec 2020...

While Naamsa no longer releases individual model sales to the public, we’ve laid our hands on figures for BMW Group South Africa for December 2020.
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These models sold best for Hyundai and Kia in SA in December 2020

While Naamsa no longer releases individual model sales to the public, we’ve laid our hands on figures for both Hyundai Automotive SA and Kia Motors SA for December 2020.

So, let’s start with Hyundai. The Korean firm registered a total of 2 862 units across the passenger-vehicle (2 637), light-commercial (199) and medium-commercial (26) segments for the month. That was enough for it to place fourth on the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling automotive brands for December 2020.

In the passenger-vehicle space, the outgoing i20 led the way for Hyundai with 671 units, placing seventh on the list of SA’s 10 best-selling cars for December 2020. The Venue (580) was next, followed by the new Grand i10 (359). The new Creta managed 333 units, just ahead of the Atos (314).

The Tucson (252) was next, ahead of the H1 (64), Kona (28), Accent (24), Santa Fe (7) and i30 N hot hatch (5).

www.carmag.co.za

These models sold best for Hyundai and Kia in SA in December 2020...

While Naamsa no longer releases individual model sales to the public, we have figures for both Hyundai Automotive SA and Kia Motors SA for December 2020.
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Mercedes-Benz vs. BMW: who won the premium sales race in 2020?

Mercedes-Benz and BMW have both released their final sales figures for 2020, so it’s time to take a look at which of the two German giants claimed the title of the world’s best-selling premium automotive brand.

Of course, we should bear in mind the year was marked by the COVID-19 global pandemic, resulting in decreased sales all round.

Still, the BMW brand delivered 2 028 659 units over the course of the year, representing a year-on-year drop of 7,2 percent. The Mercedes-Benz brand, meanwhile, reported 2 164 187 units (including V-Class and X-Class sales) over the same period, falling by 7,5 percent. By our maths, that sees the Stuttgart-based automaker win by 135 528 units (for the record, Audi delivered 1 692 773 units in 2020, some 8,3 percent down), leading the charge for the fifth year on the trot.

And what about when it comes to the performance divisions of the two brands? Well, BMW M sold a record 144 218 units (up 5,9 percent) in 2020, while Mercedes-AMG managed 125 129 units (down 5,3 percent). Whipping out the calculator reveals Munich took the title here by 19 089 units, opening the gap further after also winning this race in 2019.

www.carmag.co.za

Mercedes-Benz vs. BMW: who won the premium sales race in 2020?

Mercedes-Benz and BMW have released their sales figures for 2020. So, which one claimed the title of the world’s best-selling premium automotive brand?
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These models sold best for Suzuki Auto SA in December 2020

While Naamsa no longer releases individual model sales to the public, we’ve laid our hands on Suzuki Auto South Africa’s figures for December 2020.

For the record, the Japanese firm’s local arm registered a total of 1 524 units (1 488 in the passenger-vehicle space and 36 in the light-commercial vehicle segment) for the month, which was enough to earn it the seventh place on the list of SA’s best-selling automotive brands.

So, which passenger-vehicle models performed best for Suzuki Auto SA in December? Well, the budget-beating S-Presso led the charge with 543 registrations, while the Swift (337) continued its impressive run. Next came the Jimny, which managed a final figure of 228 units (supply from Japan has improved, after all).

www.carmag.co.za

These models sold best for Suzuki Auto SA in December 2020...

While Naamsa no longer releases individual model sales to the public, we’ve laid our hands on Suzuki Auto South Africa’s figures for December 2020.
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Ford SA releases Ranger bakkie sales and export figures for 2020

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has released sales and export figures for 2020 for its locally produced Ranger bakkie.

The Blue Oval brand says as many as 18 846 Ranger units were registered in South Africa in 2020, enough to see it place in the top three best-selling vehicles in the country, behind the Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Polo Vivo.

Ford says the Ranger recorded its “peak” sales for the year in September (2 188), October (2 203) and November (2 100).

As expected, the bakkie led the sales charge for the firm, which ended 2020 with an overall sales volume of 35 272 units (by our maths, the bakkie thus accounted for some 53 percent of Ford's total local sales). The company says the EcoSport “retained its long-standing leadership of the compact SUV segment despite the introduction of a raft of new competitors”, with 7 255 units sold.

And exports? Well, as many as 45 790 Ranger units produced at Ford’s Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria were exported in 2020, giving the bakkie the title of leading light commercial vehicle export for the year. November 2020 saw the highest monthly export volume of 6 920 units, followed by September (6 681) and March (6 353).

www.carmag.co.za

Ford SA releases Ranger bakkie sales and export figures for 2020…

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has released sales and export figures for 2020 for its locally produced Ranger bakkie.
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Volkswagen reports 'record market share' in South Africa in 2020

The Volkswagen passenger cars brand says it registered a “record market share” in South Africa in 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Glendinning, Volkswagen Group SA sales and marketing director, described 2020 as a “challenging year not just for our brands but for the motoring industry as a whole”.

“To come out of 2020 still holding onto our leadership of the passenger car market is an incredible feat,” he said.

“VW SA was severely affected by the pandemic, which ground vehicle sales to a halt in April. Our 2020 sales are down by 28,9 percent year-on-year when compared to 2019,” Glendinning pointed out.

“Despite the difficulties we faced in 2020, the Volkswagen passenger cars brand posted a record market share last year. The 21,6 percent market share achieved by the brand in 2020 is 1,2 percent higher than the one in 2019 and is the highest market share in the history of the brand as well as the highest market share of all Volkswagen markets across the world,” he added.

www.carmag.co.za

Volkswagen reports 'record market share' in South Africa in 2020...

The Volkswagen passenger cars brand says it registered a “record market share” in South Africa in 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Bucking the trend! Suzuki Auto SA says 2020 was best sales year yet

Suzuki Auto South Africa says 2020 proved its “most successful year yet” in terms of sales, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While overall industry sales fell some 29,1 percent in 2020, Suzuki Auto SA ended up selling 16 527 units in 2020, adding 1 046 units to 2019’s tally and increasing its market share to 4,3 percent.

Suzuki says its dealer network grew sales by 17,84 percent to 13 556 units, while sales to fleet customers and the government improved by 12 percent. The Japanese firm’s local arm says its best month was October 2020, when it registered some 2 032 units.

“There is no better testament to the hard work and resilience of our staff and dealer network than the increase in sales last year,” said André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto SA.

www.carmag.co.za

Bucking the trend! Suzuki Auto SA says 2020 was best sales year yet...

Suzuki Auto South Africa says 2020 proved its “most successful year yet” in terms of sales, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Hilux or Ranger? SA's 2020 double-cab bakkie sales winner revealed

Wondering which bakkie won the double-cab sales race in South Africa in 2020? Well, we’ve laid our hands on information confirming the results.

While Naamsa no longer releases individual model sales figures to the public (though that didn't stop use from unearthing the broader bakkie stats for December 2020), a record of sales by body style is indeed kept. Thanks to our studious friends over at Lightstone Auto, we’re able to shed some light on the matter.

According to Lightstone Auto, the Toyota Hilux was the best-selling double-cab bakkie in the country for 2020, retaining its 2019 crown. The Japanese firm’s local arm registered 15 339 Hilux double-cab units during the year, just 845 units ahead of the Ford Ranger (14 494 units). The Isuzu D-Max (5 562) completed the double-cab podium.

www.carmag.co.za

Hilux or Ranger? SA's 2020 double-cab bakkie sales winner revealed... - CAR Magazine

Wondering which bakkie won the double-cab sales race in South Africa in 2020? Well, we’ve laid our hands on information confirming the results. While Naamsa […]
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Volkswagen SA releases 2020 sales figures for Tiguan, Golf and more

Volkswagen South Africa has released sales figures for its most popular model ranges of 2020.

For the record, the VW passenger cars brand recorded total sales of 53 319 units last year, ahead of Toyota South Africa Motors’ passenger vehicle total of 40 970 units.

While the German firm’s local arm earlier confirmed it had registered a “record market share” in South Africa in 2020 (despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic), it has now shared a little more detail about its top sellers.

So, which models led the charge for the Wolfsburg-based brand last year? Well, the Uitenhage-built Polo Vivo ended the year on 19 750 units (enough to again earn it the title of the country’s best-selling passenger car), with the likewise locally produced Polo hatch (including the flagship GTI) adding 16 335 units.

www.carmag.co.za

Volkswagen SA releases 2020 sales figures for Tiguan, Golf and more...

Volkswagen South Africa has released sales figures for its most popular model ranges of 2020.
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UK having it rough as well:

UK car production last year reached lowest level since 1984

New SMMT report shows just 920,928 cars were built in 2020, representing £10.5bn of lost value

Car production in the UK dropped by almost a third in 2020 to reach its lowest level since 1984, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed.

Extended factory shutdowns and reduced consumer demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic meant that just 920,928 cars were built in 2020, a drop of 29.3% on 2019 and around £10.5 billion in value lost.

SMMT boss Mike Hawes described the results as "the worst in a generation" but said they were "absolutely no surprise". He warned that any recovery in 2021 would be only marginal and dependant on just how long the UK and other key export countries remain in lockdown with showrooms closed.

An independent forecast predicts the recovery to reach about one million cars produced in 2021, still way short of the generational high of 1.7 million cars in 2016. The last time car production dipped below 1.0m was in the depths of the global financial crisis in 2009.

Of the 920,928 cars built in the UK last year, almost 750,000 were exported. The UK's top export market remains the European Union, with just over 400,000 models shipped there.

www.autocar.co.uk

UK car production last year reached lowest level since 1984 | Autocar

New SMMT report shows just 920,928 cars were built in 2020, representing £10.5bn of lost value
www.autocar.co.uk www.autocar.co.uk
 
Toyota grabs world’s best-selling automaker crown ahead of VW Group

Toyota Motor Corporation has released its sales figures for 2020, with the Japanese firm’s grabbing back the title of world’s best-selling automaker.

In a 2020 defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, Toyota Motor Corporation’s sales fell 11,3 percent to 9 528 438 units. That figure includes subsidiaries Daihatsu (693 977) and Hino (142 293).

The Volkswagen Group, meanwhile, ended the year on 9 305 400 units, representing a year-on-year decline of 15,2 percent. The German group’s tally includes Audi (1 692 800), Škoda (1 004 800), Seat (427 000), Porsche (272 200), VW commercial vehicles (371 700), Man (118 100) and Scania (72 100).

For the record, the Toyota brand ended 2020 with worldwide sales of 8 692 168, while the VW passenger cars brand (excluding commercial vehicles) finished on 5 328 000 units.

www.carmag.co.za

Toyota grabs world’s best-selling automaker crown ahead of VW Group...

Toyota Motor Corporation has released its sales figures for 2020, with the Japanese firm’s grabbing back the title of world’s best-selling automaker.
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South African consumers need to buy more of Haval, Mahindra and vehicles from other emerging manufacturers, that's how you make new vehicles affordable.
 
TheChamp said:
South African consumers need to buy more of Haval, Mahindra and vehicles from other emerging manufacturers, that's how you make new vehicles affordable.
Click to expand...
.....and make yourself poorer in the long run
 
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