/ 6 July 2000

Big jump in car sales

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg.

MOTOR vehicle sales showed sustained growth during the first six months of 2000 to end the half year 19% up on the same period last year, with a total of 165 678 sales recorded by Naamsa.

In June, sales were up a substantial 25,7% over the same month in 1999.

The passenger vehicle sector showed growth of 24% in the six month period January to June with 109 866 sales and a 31,2% increase over June last year with 20 522 units for the month.

The light commercial market, which was less affected by a slump in demand during 1999, also showed healthy growth with sales up by 9,3% for the half year (50 142) and 13,2% (9 030 sales for the month) up June 2000 vs 1999.

The medium and heavy vehicle sectors are up by 19,1% and 22,4% respectively for the half-year.

“The market performance for June is encouraging as the relatively strong demand was evidenced in far from ideal trading conditions,” says Johan van Zyl, Toyota SA’s Managing Director of Marketing.

“Events in Zimbabwe, a drop in value in the rand, and a general lack of confidence will have restrained the market to some extent during June. A number of manufacturers raised their prices at the beginning of the month and that generally suppresses sales for a couple of weeks.”

Toyota retained its position of market leadership with 6 163 sales for the month despite the impact of a product gap with virtually no sales recorded for the discontinued Venture.

The Toyota Conquest topped the charts with 1 982 sales for June followed by the Corolla 1 753, and the Hilux on 1 600 to once again give Toyota a clean sweep in the top three models for the month.