FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA’S RESPONSE
Pretoria – July 1, 2008 – According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (NAAMSA) new vehicles sales remain under pressure. NAAMSA reported that 42,436 (Including AMH) units were sold during the course of June 2008. While this represents a marginal decrease (-1.8%) over May 2008 figures it illustrates a 21, 5% decrease over the corresponding month in 2007.
Passenger vehicles were slightly up with 25,666 units sold over the course of the month. The light commercial vehicle sector came under heavy pressure with 13,544 units sold, a decrease of 9.7% over the previous month and 22.7% down on June 2007’s numbers.
“While passenger vehicles showed a very slight increase in numbers the light commercial vehicle sector came under increasing pressure,” explains Jacques Brent, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA). “As a result of compounding economic factors, such as increasing fuel prices and rising interest rates, business confidence is at its lowest point since 2006.
FMCSA maintained its numbers with 4,776 units sold during June 2008, 2,633 units were passenger cars while 2,143 units per light commercial vehicles. However, FMCSA has increased its year-to-date market share from 11.2% to 11.5%. The Mazda2 continues to top the sales chart for the company with 589 units sold, while the Ford Bantam was the top commercial vehicle seller with 1,089 models sold.
“With pressure expected to continue in the coming months consumers are also feeling the pressure and are looking at buying down in to smaller more economical vehicles or increasing their ownership cycles,” he adds.
Year to date sales have declined by 15.7%. “Today saw the fuel price rise above the R10 per litre mark, while interest rates have risen from 10.5% in 2006 to 15.5% at present. The cumulative effects of these increases will continue to impact new vehicle sales during the course of 2008 as buyers exercise extreme caution,” concludes Brent.
TOP PERFORMING NEW PASSENGER VEHICLES June 2008
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VW Polo/Classic 2 211
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Toyota Corr/RunX/Vers/Auri 1 883
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Toyota Yaris 1 819
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VW CitiGolf 1 337
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Mercedes C-Class 989
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BMW 3-Series 813
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VW Golf A5/Jetta A5 733
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Opel Corsa 707
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Mazda2 589
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Audi A4/Avant 583
TOP PERFORMING NEW LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES June 2008
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Toyota Hilux 2 297
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Toyota Quantum 1 872
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Opel Corsa Utility 1 742
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Isuzu KB 1 407
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Ford Bantam 1 098
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Nissan Hardbody 1 064
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Nissan 1400 680
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Ford Ranger 643
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Mazda BT-50 402
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Mitsubishi Colt 300
Source: Naamsa
