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By Moses Akaigwe
After carefully considering the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of September 2023, auto makers in South Africa have once again reaffirmed that various external business factors have exerted significant pressure on the automotive industry’s key performance indicators in September 2023.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa listed the various external business factors as the higher fuel prices, ongoing challenges in transport logistics, Eskom’s incapacity to meet industry’s energy demands, the volatility in commodity prices, and the intricate external environment,
Despite these challenging market conditions, the industry has displayed a modest yet commendable resilience in year-to-date new vehicle sales and export performance for September 2023. This resilience can be attributed to the relatively low production volumes, emanating from the 2022 flood-induced halts.
Aggregate domestic new vehicle sales in September 2023, at 46,021 units reflected a decline of 1,963 units, or a fall of 4,1 percent, from the 47,984 vehicles sold in September 2022. Export sales recorded a decline of 5,217 units, or 12,6 percent, to 36,247 units in September 2023 compared to the 41,464 vehicles exported in September 2022.
Overall, out of the total reported industry sales of 46,021 vehicles, an estimated 37,149 units, or 80,7 percent, represented dealer sales, an estimated 6,241 units or 13,6 percent represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, 2,9 percent or 1 321 units to industry corporate fleets, and 2,8 percent or 1 310 units sales to government.
The September 2023 new passenger car market at 29,669 units had registered a decline of 2,723 cars, or a loss of 8,4 percent, compared to the 32,392 new cars sold in September 2022. The car dealer industry supported the new passenger car market during the month and accounted for a sound 76,1 percent of sales in September 2023, while the rental sales accounted for 18,9 percent or 5 609 units of the new passenger vehicles sales.
Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, pick-ups and mini-buses at 13,169 units during September 2023 had recorded an increase of 581 units, or a gain of 4,6 percent, from the 12,588 light commercial vehicles sold during September 2022.
Sales for medium vehicle volumes decreased by 44 units or a loss of 5,1 percent compared to the 871 medium vehicle units recorded the same period last year. The heavy truck segments of the industry reflected a positive performance during the month 2,356 units, which is an increase of 223 vehicles, or a gain of 10,5 percent, compared to the corresponding month last year.
Vehicle exports for the year to date were now 8,3 percent ahead of the same period last year, at a total of 285,200 units. The new vehicle sales for the year-to-date were 2,5 percent ahead of the same period, recorded at 401,315 units.
Although the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) maintained the repurchase rate at 8,25 percent in September 2023, the automotive industry continues to grapple with concerns over consumer affordability. The most recent SARB report indicates a 0,3 percent contraction in household consumption expenditure, with household debt surpassing household disposable income by 62,5 percent in the second quarter of 2023. Additionally, the industry faces potential upward pressures stemming from an elevated inflation outlook, fluctuations in the exchange rate, rising fuel prices, and increased energy costs.
On the positive side, In September 2023, StatsSA reported that the manufacturing and finance industries were the core drivers of GDP growth in the second quarter of 2023, recorded at 0,6 percent. Motor vehicles, parts and accessories, and other transport equipment grew by 9,5 percent, contributing 1,0 percent to the GDP.
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