/ 2 October 2009

Sales of new vehicles down in September

South Africa’s total industry new vehicle sales declined by 19,5% year-on-year to 35 931 units in September, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Naamsa) said on Friday.

When stripping out sales from Associated Motor Holdings and Amalgamated Automobile Distributors — which report separately — sales fell by 22,4% to 31 726 units compared with September last year, Naamsa said.

Vehicle sales remain weak, having been in decline for more than two years, knocked by soft domestic demand, although the rate of decline is slowing, while a global downturn has slashed exports.

Exports were down 49,3 % in September at 13 974 vehicles. — Reuters