“In the event, October 2012 aggregate industry domestic sales had improved by 5,519 units, or 10.5%, to 57,845,” Naamsa says.

“Against the backdrop of weak momentum in the overall economy, the performance of the South African automotive sector continued to surprise on the  upside.”

In October 2011, 52,326 units were sold.

However, the transport sector strike disrupted manufacturing plants, affecting vehicle production and exports.

Total domestic sales for first 10 months of this calendar year remained 10.1% ahead of the corresponding period last year.

Export sales showed a 3.3% decline, or 859 units, reaching 24,904 vehicles.

Naamsa says that in calculating sales totals, estimates were compiled for manufacturer Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA), which provided only a single total sales number for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and export sales.

Out of 55,351 vehicles (excluding MBSA), 77.9%, or 43,091 units, represented dealer sales. Another 13.6% represented sales to the vehicle  rental industry, 4.9% to government, and 3.6% to industry corporate fleets.

New car sales maintained an upward momentum during October, at 41,621 units (including MBSA). This reflected a 13%, or 4,795 units, improvement, compared to the 36,826 new cars sold during October last year.

Year to date new car sales remained 11.7% ahead of the corresponding 10 months of 2011, says Naamsa.

Excerpted from The Citizen Online. Click here to read the full article.