The Nelson Mandela Bay Big Two in automotive manufacturing have, despite a drop in units, still delivered strong comparative results – if we take the total production (domestic and export) then GMSA and VWSA account for 17 760 of the total sales of 49 499 units for October 2011 (35.87% of the total from 32 manufacturers).
Now that should boost consumer and business confidence in Port Elizabeth!
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers commented that sales in all segments had registered modest gains on the corresponding month last year. November 2011 aggregate industry domestic sales had improved by 5 181 units or 11.7% to reach 49 499 vehicles from 44 318 vehicles sold during November last year. Total year to date domestic aggregate new vehicle sales remained 16.0% ahead of the corresponding eleven months in 2010, whilst year to date export sales reflected an improvement of 17% in volume terms.
Total Domestic Vehicle Sales by Manufacturer for November 2011:
- TOYOTA – 11 419
- VOLKSWAGEN GROUP SA – 7 503
- GMSA – 5 694
- NISSAN – 4 105
- FMC – 3 748
- MERCEDES-BENZ SA – 2 106
- BMW GROUP – 1 993
- RENAULT – 883
- CHRYSLER SA – 621
- PCSA – 563
- JAGUAR LAND ROVER – 529
- HONDA – 521
- SUZUKI AUTO – 513
- TATA – 381
- FIAT GROUP – 365
- UD TRUCKS – 301
- MAN – 242
- VOLVO CARS – 237
- MITSUBISHI MOTORS SA – 229
- MAHINDRA – 172
- SCANIA – 110
- IVECO – 100
- VOLVO TRUCKS – 86
- CHANGAN SA – 84
- SUBARU – 65
- NAVISTAR INTERNATIONAL – 60
- PORSCHE – 59
- RENAULT TRUCKS – 34
- POWERSTAR – 15
- BABCOCK – 10
- MASERATI – 4
- VDL BUS & COACH SA – 1
- SUB TOTAL – 42 753
- AMH & AAD – 6 746
- INDUSTRY TOTAL – 49 499
Overall, out of total November 2011 industry reported sales of 49 499 vehicles, 85.7% or 42 411 units represented dealer sales, 5.8% sales to government, 4.9% represented sales to the car rental industry and 3.6% represented industry corporate fleet sales.
See how our local Motor Manufacturers (Volkswagen and GMSA) are faring against each other and in comparison to the total vehicles sold in South Africa below:
See how our local Motor Manufacturers (Volkswagen and GMSA) are faring against each other in comparison with domestic sales and exports against the total vehicle exports from South Africa below:
GMSA described their October figures thus:
General Motors South Africa (GMSA) continued to consolidate its position as a top-ranked manufacturer with 6 332 sales recorded in October for a 12,1% share of the total market. This solid performance came in another month of high activity in the market place with 52 338 new vehicles being delivered.
October vehicle deliveries were up 18,9% on October 2010 and just 2 019 units down on the 47-month high recorded in September. In the Passenger market the Chevrolet Aveo ranked as the sixth best seller with deliveries of 1 239 units. A high level of interest in the Chevrolet Spark saw it retain a position in the top ten as number nine.
The Chevrolet Corsa Utility continued to dominate the sub-one ton segment with sales of 1 656 units to extend its unbroken leadership of this market to 79 months. A sturdy performance from the Isuzu KB in the 1-ton sector, where it ranks as number two with sales of 1 155 units, boosted GM’s share of the LCV market to 21,96%.
“October vehicle sales delivered another strong month for the motor industry following on the four year high of September. Sales were likely supported by a high level of interest generated by the Johannesburg International Motor Show and new model activity associated with the show,” says Malcolm Gauld, GM’s Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “The total market was up 18,9% on October 2010 with passenger sales up 19,8% for the same period. Sales of light commercial vehicles, always an important indicator of economic activity, were again positive with an increase of 15,6% over October 2010. Similarly sales of medium and extra heavy vehicles were very positive showing increases of 31,6 and 29,6% respectively.
“New vehicle deliveries in the past month dropped off by 2 019 units compared to September, largely accounted for by a drop off in deliveries to rental fleets of around 1 200 units. In contrast government sales were up by 800 units.
“An indicator of public participation in the market is the daily sales average through the dealer channel. In October this number was 1 934 units per day, the best number seen since March of this year. While overall dealer sales are down on September this can be accounted for by the fact that there was one less selling day available in October. On balance we feel that demand through October was on a par with that experienced during September.
“October saw a slight reversal in the year-to-date market trend with growth moving up marginally from 16,2% to 16,5% for the first ten months of the year. At GMSA we are still expressing a degree of caution with regard to the sustainability of the current level of sales. Local and imported cost pressures remain a concern, as does the current turmoil in the Euro currency zone, impacting on the total global stage..
“The motor industry has experienced a very welcome period of high activity in recent months. It would be great to report on sales of over 570 000 which would reflect a very solid performance for the year.”
VWSA had the following comments on their performance:
During November a total of 33 074 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa. Total new passenger car sales during the month decreased by 10.2 percent when compared to October. This figure grew by 12 percent when compared to November 2010, bringing year-to-date sales of new passenger cars in 2011 to a level 17.5 percent above January to November sales last year.
Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) continues its run at the top of the passenger car market – with sales totalling 6 598 vehicles during November. This equates to a 19.9 percent share of the passenger car market.
“The Polo and Polo Vivo Brands were once again the country’s two top sellers – with sales of 1 855 and 2 270 vehicles respectively. These two models alone account for a 12.4 percent share of the passenger market, said VWSA Sales and Marketing Director, Mike Glendinning.
With one month to go, November saw Audi of South Africa breaking its annual sales record. “November sales helped drive Audi to its highest ever annual sales of 13 978 – eclipsing the previous record set in 2006 of 13 006 units. Audi has posted all-time monthly sales records nine times in 2011, including November,” said Glendinning.
November’s sales figure of 1 017 was up over the corresponding period last year by 8.2%. Audi also increased its premium market share from 18.1 percent last year to 20 percent year-to-date.
“The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Brand recorded sales of 905 units during November, with the Amarok Single and Double Cab pick-ups accounting for 555 of these.”
With 7 503 cumulative sales, the three Brands had a total market share of 15.1 percent in November.
“Although sales of new passenger cars in November declined quite sharply, when viewed from the perspective of the selling rate of new cars per day, it performed slightly better than the average selling rate of new passenger cars per day achieved in the January to July period of 2011.”
“As 2011 draws to a close, the new passenger car market continues to be supported by declining real new car prices (falling by a significant 4.6 percent in October), low interest rates and low debt servicing costs, a highly competitive trading environment and ongoing new model introductions,” Glendinning concluded.
Alan Straton
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