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NAAMSA commented that overall new car and commercial vehicle sales for the month had registered modest gains compared to the corresponding month last year.

• Aggregate Industry sales had improved by 2 552 units or 4.8% to 56 110 vehicles from 53 558 units in March last year.
• Total aggregate Industry new car sales during March 2012 at 38 970 units reflected an improvement of 3 802 units or 10.8 % compared to the 35 168 new cars sold during March 2011.
• 14556 sales of light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses which represented a 7.5% decline compared to the 15 739 units sold in the corresponding month last year.
• Decline in sales of 2.3% and 2.7% for sales of medium and heavy trucks respectively, compared to the corresponding  month last year
• Exports of South African produced motor vehicles, including MBSA export sales, during March, 2012 at 23 956 vehicles reflected a decline of 6 070 units or a fall of 20.2% compared to the 30026 vehicles exported during March last year.

According to NAAMSA Industry export sales should improve during the months ahead as the Ford Global Compact Vehicle Export Programme and the BMW new 3 series export volumes were ramped up. Vehicle exports into Europe had softened as a result of the recession and debt crisis in the Eurozone. The Industry’s export performance during 2012 would remain a function of the direction of the global economy. Higher export volumes to African countries however were anticipated.

Factors that would continue to lend support to the domestic market included the recent marginal improvement in the financial position of consumers, relatively low interest rates, continuing improvement in vehicle affordability in real terms, the highly competitive trading environment and new model introductions.

The outlook for 2012 in terms of total Industry sales was one of modest, single digit growth. However, sharp increases in energy and transport costs would impact negatively on consumer disposable income in the months ahead. Record high fuel prices should also reinforce the growing trend in favour of more fuel efficient vehicles. Growth in consumer spending on durable goods was expected to moderate over the medium term.

Based on these considerations, domestic sales were expected to continue to reflect growth but at relatively subdued rates.

TOP PERFORMING: NEW PASSENGER VEHICLES: March 2012

TOP PERFORMING: NEW LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: March 2012

Watch ABN’s David Williams interview Jeff Osborne, the CEO of RMI, for more on the vehicles sales data for March.

Source: NAAMSA