Sales of new vehicles continued to grow in April despite public holidays and therefore fewer trading days, the National Automobile Manufacturers’ Association of South Africa (Naamsa) said on Wednesday.
Aggregate new-vehicle sales were at 45 636 units, Naamsa said in a media statement. This was a registered improvement of 5 142 vehicles or 12,7% compared with the 40 493 new vehicles sold in April last year.
Naamsa said sales in all segments again showed good gains compared with the same month last year.
Supported by the introduction of new models and affordability, the year-to-date new-car market was 19% ahead of the corresponding four months last year.
On a year-to-date basis, light commercial vehicle sales remained 19,9% ahead of the corresponding four months last year.
Sales of medium commercial vehicles reflected an improvement of 23%, while heavy trucks and buses reflected an improvement of 20,7%.
Aggregate vehicle-export sales for the first three months of 2006 were at 38 541 vehicles. This was an improvement of 14 099 vehicles or 57,6% compared with the 24 442 export sales in the first quarter of 2005.
A favourable macro environment, strong business and consumer confidence, growing real disposable income, low interest rates, ”substantially enhanced new vehicle affordability” and the continuing introduction of technologically advanced, fuel-efficient models continue to lend support to the market.
Naamsa added that employment in the industry is also expanding at a rapid rate, with more than 1 000 new jobs created at assembly plants during the first quarter of 2006. — Sapa