The Chinese Have Arrived
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OVER 16 300 SUBSCRIBERS www.autolive.co.za Issue No. 145 | 30 July 2021 THE CHINESE HAVE ARRIVED South African vehicle retail sales statistics for Honda. A major factor in this performance was the Isuzu, which sold 519 heavy trucks in the period the first half of 2021 – particularly in the month launch of the Jolion, which contributed 708 units under review. Total FAW sales between January- of May – indicate that the Chinese have finally to make it the fifth best-selling product range in June 2021 totalled 884 units, compared to 559 for arrived as fairly significant players in the local the country for June. the same period in 2020. market. It has been a long journey, with the first Haval and GWM combined ranked seventh This robust performance by these Chinese cars from Geely having arrived here in 2007. among all manufacturers in terms of total sales in brands is probably the motivation for Chery to At the time some optimistic local industry June, with 1 992 units retailed. consider a return to the South African market, commentators predicted it would only take the as it has begun distributing regular media Chinese five years to progress as far as the Koreans Robust performance by these releases about the company and its products to did in 10 years and the Japanese did in 20 years. Chinese brands is probably the local publications. This has not proved to be the case and progress motivation for Chery to consider a has been slow. Generally, exports of Chinese naamsa I The Automotive domestic brand motor vehicles continue to return to the South African market. Business Council reports be disappointing. The recovery in the new vehicle market is gaining Since the arrival of Geely there have been Another Chinese brand that is, at last, momentum and in line with industry expecta- sporadic introductions of a host of further Chinese showing promise in terms of sales volume is the tions, notwithstanding the country moving from domestic brands and models, but none of them truck division of FAW, which was an early entrant Level 2 to Level 3 in mid-June and subsequently to gained traction until GWM, previously known into the South African market, having arrived in adjusted Level 4 lockdown restrictions at the end of mainly as a bakkie manufacturer, launched its 1994. Progress has been slow. Even the start of June 2021. Aggregate domestic sales in June 2021, upmarket Haval brand with a growing number local production at its own plant in Coega, near at 38 030 units, reflected an increase of 20,2%, from of SUV and crossover models that are building a Port Elizabeth, in 2014 did not give sales an early June 2020. Export sales also recorded a gain of solid foundation. boost. However, over the past couple of years 50,9%, to 28 384 units in June 2021. Haval/GWM sales for the first six months FAW has become increasingly competitive in the Overall, out of the total reported industry sales of 2021 amounted to 8 149 units compared to local market. of 38 030 vehicles, an estimated 32 847 units, or 4 153 for the same period a year ago, but what FAW is currently concentrating on the heavy 86,3%, represented dealer sales, an estimated 7,6% was impressive is that Haval jumped from 12th truck market (8 501 – 16 500 kg GVM) and here represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, among passenger car brands to ninth in the it has increased sales in this segment for the first 3,9% to industry corporate fleets, and 2,2% sales half-year comparison. six months of 2021 to 431 units, compared to to government. June was the month when Haval sold 1 259 230 of these trucks sold in the first half of 2020, The June 2021 new passenger car market, at cars and lifted itself to seventh place, ahead of which was, admittedly, affected by a COVID-19 24 482 units, had registered an increase of 28% established brands such as BMW, Ford, Nissan, lockdown. This performance lifted FAW from Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot/Citroën, and fourth in the segment to second, trailing only continued on page 2 Page 6 Page 10 Page 20 Online vehicle searches The great EV How to keep your vehicle reach record high charging dilemma germ free Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 2 Editor and Advertising Manager continued from previous page Liana Reiners [email protected] compared to June 2020. The car 083 407 4600 rental industry accounted for 10,5% of car sales in June 2021. Domestic Contributors sales of new light commercial Roger Houghton vehicles, bakkies and mini-buses, [email protected] at 11 208 units during June 2021, 082 371 9097 had recorded an increase of 9,6% over the June 2020 figure. Sales for Advertising Sales medium and heavy truck segments Liana Reiners of the industry reflected a mixed [email protected] performance and at 687 units and 083 407 4600 1 653 units respectively, showed an increase of 19,1% in the case of Address medium commercial vehicles, and, 237 Rigel Avenue in the case of heavy trucks and buses Waterkloof Ridge a decline of 3,3%, compared to the Pretoria corresponding month last year. PO Box 914 005 Wingate Park Ongoing stronger 0153 sales through the 012 460 4448 dealer channel signals Website improved consumer www.autolive.co.za and business sentiment, while companies are Facebook re-fleeting again. www.facebook.com/pages/AutoLive © 2021 WCM Media CC The new vehicle market con- tinued its gradual recovery during Production the month of June 2021 in the face Marketing Support Services of several challenges, but also op- Danie Dreyer portunities. Ongoing stronger sales [email protected] through the dealer channel signals +27 (0)12 346 2168 improved consumer and business sentiment, rental companies are Layout re-fleeting again while the delayed replacement cycle, due to lockdown Marketing Support Services restrictions in 2020, are catching Bonita Tuson up in contributing to improved new vehicle sales. Disclaimer While reasonable precautions have Of concern is the been taken to ensure the accuracy persistent electricity wave of infections being experienced. Compared to the first six months of of the advice and information given The vaccine rollout is slow, and a 2020, the new vehicle market was to readers, neither the editor, the supply disruptions. tidal wave of the pandemic threatens now 40,1% above the corresponding proprietors, nor the publishers to dent the momentum in consump- period last year, but compared to the can accept any responsibility However, of concern is the per- tion in the country, especially if the pre-COVID-19 first six months of for any damages or injury which sistent electricity supply disruptions, adjusted Level 4 lockdown restric- may arise therefrom. port delays, and the third COVID-19 tions are maintained. continued on next page MONTHLY SALES STATISTICS The growing amount of advertising in AutoLive has made it necessary to relocate the four pages of detailed monthly vehicle sales analysis to the website www.autolive.co.za. CLICK HERE to access Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 3 continued from previous page instances mu- Editor’s Note nicipal rates and 2019, the new vehicle market was still 11,7% taxes. During down, highlighting that a full recovery will this time, What a month July turned be protracted until around 2023. dealers will also out to be! South Africa found be dealing with itself in the throes of the NADA’s View implementation third wave of COVID-19 “The fact that 86.3% of the 38 030 new of the Protection Mark Dommisse. infections and as a result vehicles sold in South Africa in June went of Personal the country was placed on through the retail dealer channels is a Information Act (POPIA), the planned adjusted Level 4 lockdown strong indicator of growing confidence in rollout of AARTO and the Competition restrictions. This meant – buying capital assets by both the business Guidelines for the local motor industry. amongst other things – no and consumer sectors of the market,” “What we really need as a stimulus is gatherings, no school and said Mark Dommisse, Chairperson a rapid increase in the rate of vaccinations. no alcohol. of the National Automobile Dealers’ The injection of R10 billion into Aspen As we were licking our collective wounds and wonder- Association (NADA). to facilitate vaccine production is good ing how the country could survive the resulting blow to the “Retail sales continued to show a news in the fight against the Coronavirus,” economy, we were suddenly faced with another very real and gradual recovery in June, which was in line concluded Dommisse. very scary threat. Unrest and looting broke out in KwaZulu- with industry forecasts, despite the growing Natal and Gauteng and we were bombarded with news and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on WesBank Has its Say images of property being destroyed, shops being looted, malls our daily lives as the country moved from “While the majority of sales during June being ransacked and trucks being burned. It was anarchy. lockdown Level 2 to Level 3 and then, at were not severely impacted by COVID-19 Of course we panicked. How could we not? South Africa the end of June, we experienced a really bad restrictions, we expect a returned level was burning and bleeding and for days on end the carnage week with rapidly rising infection levels and of hesitancy during July,” said Lebogang continued while law enforcement remained conspicuously the imposition of lockdown Level 4.