..:: AUTO REPORT AFRICA ::..
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“The appetite for new vehicles in South Africa continues to surprise motor industry pundits and forecasters, as buyers show remarkable resilience in the face of tough economic pressures,” said Mark Dommisse, Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), when commenting on the strong sales reported for August.
The latest data distributed by naamsa I The Automotive Business Council today, shows that sales last month of 47 420 units were 14.2% higher than in August 2021. Admittedly, sales last August were released following a month of rioting and logistics setbacks at ports in terms of vehicle road deliveries.
Fast forward to August’s new vehicle sales this year, and Toyota is still recovering from the disastrous flooding in KwaZulu-Natal in April, while the economy battles with rising inflation, costly fuel, and the upward trend in interest rates which is impacting disposable incomes.
“It was encouraging to see that an estimated 40 889 units or 86% of the total volume went through the dealer retail channel. It’s important to improve dealer health as they recover from COVID-19 lockdowns, stock shortages, the ongoing global semiconductor shortage and other challenges,” added Dommisse.
A trend worth noting is the manner in which imported cars are now finding acceptance in a market previously dominated by locally-made models – especially in more affordable vehicle segments. There is also a clear indication that good quality cars from China, such as Chery and Haval are now finding ready acceptance in South Africa with steadily growing sales figures. Suzuki continues to show excellent results with another record month in August.
“The new vehicle market is still a strong 13.8% ahead of the corresponding period last year. Exports jumped 57% in August, which is particularly important for local OEMs and the South African economy. NADA is cautiously optimistic that the year will continue to run ahead of 2021’s performance,” concluded the NADA Chairperson.
NADA is a constituent association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI).
NADA
The National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) is a professional body representing the interests of business persons who own, operate and manage new passenger and commercial vehicle franchise motor dealerships and qualifying used vehicle only outlets in South Africa. There are currently 1,380 NADA members. NADA members make up 85% of all new franchise dealerships in South Africa. South Africa currently has approximately 1,600 new franchised automotive dealerships comprising approximately R50-billion worth of investment. It employs 58,000 personnel directly and a further 25,000 indirectly.
NADA is a proud constituent association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) and has affiliations with a number of similar organisations world-wide. NADA is committed to enhancing the image of the retail motor business; facilitating the interface between dealers and the motor manufacturers and importers who supply them; building rewarding relationships between dealers and their customers; and bringing relevant issues facing its members to the attention of government at all levels.
As a major role player in the automotive industry, NADA and its members are strong supporters of complying with the Retail Motor Industry Organisation and the Consumer Protection Act’s Codes of Conduct for the Automotive Industry. In all forums, NADA is the fully representative and respected voice of the retail motor industry in South Africa.
