TFL DEC
4
JOHANNESBURG
INTERNATIONAL
MOTOR SHOW
MONTHLY VEHICLE SALES
statistics for October, released by the Department of Trade and
Industry, showed continued loss in momentum in vehicle sales, after four years of positive
growth. Year-on-year sales do, however, remain in the black, with 2013 still set to be a growth
year for the South African motor industry and the OEMs appear optimistic in this regard.
The National Association of Automotive Manufacturers of SouthAfrica (NAAMSA) reported that
a total of 56 927 vehicles were retailed in October, while vehicle exports improved dramatically
to near pre-strike levels.
During October General Motors South Africa (GMSA) achieved a market share of 10.2% with
strong sales of its key passenger and light commercial vehicle (LCV) models.
“October sales dipped slightly below forecast, in part owing to inventory limitations in popular
locally produced lines, in the wake of the industry-wide strike during the third quarter. Total
sales of 56 927 vehicles reflect a drop in growth to 3.9% for the ten months to date compared
to 2012,” said Brian Olson, GMSA’s Vice President Vehicle Sales, Service, and Marketing.
“The goal of 5% growth for the year may still be achievable as the industry drives towards its
third best year ever,” he added.
In total, Toyota South Africa Motors sold 10 698 vehicles in October, while exports grew from
1913 units in September to 4929 units in October. This remains well below past export levels,
but holds promise of further growth in November and December. “We look forward to a speedy
return to our sales levels, but will have to accept that a number of the strike-delayed orders in
September and early October – both locally and for the export markets – have been lost and
that we will not be able to reach our original sales targets,” said Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice
President of Sales and Marketing, at Toyota South Africa Motors.
The OEMs drew crowds of potential and actual buyers with offers of increased warranties,
improved driver safety, better fuel efficiency, innovations, new dealerships and one-stop
solutions.
Scania’s Managing Director, Steve Wager, illustrated Scania’s wide product offering covering
nearly every sector of the commercial vehicle truck and bus market segments, finance and
fleet management and specialised service and maintenance solutions for specific sectors. He
expressed an optimistic outlook for the SA market. Predicting that SA’s GDP could grow by as
much as 5% next year, he explained Scania’s market offensive with new and improved products
in represented sectors and introduced an innovative rental solution called Scania Rental, now
available to local operators to overcome ‘peak period’ challenges.
Scania sold a huge quantity of trucks, as well as one of the first examples of it sophisticated
new bus, known as the Scania Touring, on the first two days of the Show.
Gideon de Swardt, Public Relations Officer for Scania in South Africa, says, “On the very first
day of the show we sold this example straight off the stand! Then on the same day, a cross-
border customer placed a double-digit order for some very specialised truck-tractors, to be
used mainly in the mining industry. On the second day, we sold a further eight vehicles,
comprising various models. One of the customers flew in a private aircraft from Louis Trichardt,
landed at Rand Airport, arrived at the show and straight away purchased the Scania Streamline,
our latest edition to the range, launched in Europe only a few months ago. This is one of our
flagship truck models.
“We truly are the one-stop-shop truck manufacturer represented in South Africa,” he added.
Vice President of Hino SA, Dr Casper Kruger, told the gathering at the Hino stand that he was
pleased with the way Hino had performed in terms of sales in SA during the first nine months
of 2013, with the 2950 units sold in this period equating to a 12.8% share of the total truck
market, excluding sales by Associated Motor Holdings Pty Ltd (AMH). Sales were up by 327
units and share by 0.3%, compared to the situation a year ago.
Despite fuel hikes and the
threat of e-Tolls, ongoing
strikes in the motor industry
and many OEMs recording
a slowdown in sales, the
Johannesburg International
Motor Show pulled out all
stops and put on the calibre
of exhibition that has become
synonymous with the event.
JIMS
