Johannesburg – New vehicle sales have improved in South Africa with 49 233 units sold, marking the "highest monthly total" yet in 2018, reports Naamsa.

Despite public holidays limiting sales days, Naamsa attributes higher local sales due to pre-emptive purchases ahead of the rise in VAT.

Naamsa said: "The proliferation of public holidays during the month, including the Easter recess, would have been a factor that impacted on domestic sales. This was offset to a large extent by pre-emptive buying by consumers to avoid the increase in value added tax, new vehicle emissions taxes and ad valorem duty changes announced in the budget."

READ: SA bakkies sales for March 2018

READ: SA car sales for March 2018

Domestic new vehicle sales reached its highest total yet in 2018 with 49 233 units sold, an improvement of 535 units (+1.1%) compared to the 48 698 vehicles sold in March 2017.

In contrast, March 2018 export sales at 27 438 vehicles registered a decline of 2421 units (-8.1%) compared to the 29 859 vehicles exported in March last year.

Naamsa said: "The March, 2018 export number had been affected by the BMW switchover in production from the 3 Series to the X3."

Total market

Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 49 233 vehicles, an estimated 44 417 units or 90.2% represented dealer sales, an estimated 5.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental Industry, 2.7% to industry corporate fleets and 1.8% to government.





New car market

The new car market held up relatively well compared to the commercial vehicle segments; at 32 176 units registered an improvement of 1144 cars or 3.7% compared to the 31 032 new cars sold in March 2017. Naamsa said: “Due to seasonal factors, the car rental industry contribution had declined but still accounted for about 7% of new car sales in March 2018.”

Bakkie market

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses are marginally weaker at 14 701 units during March 2018; a decline of 345 units (-2.3%) compared to the 15 046 LCVs sold during the corresponding month last year.

