NAAMSA vehicle sales statistics for April report total sales of 26 283 units including those of AMH, a 43,7% reduction from the 46 643 sales reported for April last year. Passenger vehicles accounted for 16 748 of those sales, light commercial vehicles 7 481, medium commercials 691, and heavy commercials and busses 1 511 units.

“Economic activity in general, and sales of big ticket items in particular, will have been stunted by the considerable number of holidays during the month with a reduced number of selling days directly impacting on sales performance,” says Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota South Africa. “This will have been compounded by the fact that the short working weeks provided opportunities to optimise leave availability.

“If we remove the anomalies caused by the proliferation of public holidays the indications are that the vehicle sales trend has now entered a level phase.

“Locally a further reduction in interest rates with the promise of more to come will boost consumer morale as will the improved value of the Rand. The former will act to increase disposable income while the latter will provide respite from imported pricing pressures, especially with regard to fuel prices. Continued aversion to lending by the banks and the high interest rate premiums being charged on asset finance will remain impediments to growth in vehicle sales for at least the next few months. Loosening up the asset finance logjam is fundamental to any renewed growth in sales.”

Toyota continued to lead sales with a market share of 22,2% for the month from 5 824 sales. Export sales of 4 088 units represented 35,6% of the total to give Toyota 26,2% share of domestic and export sales.

The Hilux was once again the top selling vehicle in South Africa with deliveries of 1 653 units, a figure that was greater than any other manufacturer’s total LCV sales for the month. The popular Quantum was the second best selling light commercial for the month. Toyota accounted for 34,2% of light commercial vehicle sales in April.

The first month of truck sales under the Hino banner within Toyota SA saw the company at the top of the medium commercial sales log with 141 sales. Hino was also the sales leader in the Heavy Commercial Vehicle category (8501-16500kg).