Toyota dominates local automotive market with September vehicle sales
- Best monthly sales results since March 2008
- Positive increase in passenger market
- Overall industry sales results up by 11% from September 2014
| Market segment | Sept 2013 | Sept 2014 | % change |
| Passenger vehicles | 39,921 | 42,918 | 7.5% |
| Light commercial vehicles | 12,170 | 15,179 | 24.7% |
| Medium commercial vehicles | 895 | 904 | 1% |
| Heavy commercial vehicles | 463 | 487 | 5.2% |
| Extra Heavy commercial vehicles | 1,028 | 1,247 | 21.3% |
| Bus | 94 | 119 | 26.6% |
| Vehicle exports | 8,598 | 30,778 | 258% |
| Overall market (local) | 54,571 | 60,854 | 11.5% |
Toyota South Africa dominated the local automotive market for Septemer with a total of 12,363 units sold – this translates to 20.3% market share in a highly competitive market of 60,854 units. This is the best monthly sales result for Toyota since March 2008, with strong performances from Hilux (3,907 units); Etios (1,705 units); Fortuner (1,234 units) and Corolla Quest (1,273 units).
Toyota’s Truck brand, Hino, also topped Medium Commercial Vehicle sales with 229 units sold and sits in second position for overall sales in the Truck market with total sales of 371 units. On the export front, Toyota contributed 6,458 units which translates to 20.9% share of the total export market of 30,778 units.
“The industry performed remarkably well during September with a 11.5% increase in sales compared to the same period last year; which will go a long way in achieving the target of 630,000 units forecasted for this year,” says Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Toyota South Africa.
“The continued, sustained growth in particularly the Extra Heavy Commercial Vehicle sector is indicative of a resilient market; while a 26.5% increase in car rental volumes is indicative of higher demand from corporate, private and leisure customers.
“Strong sales in affordable passenger vehicles such as Toyota’s Etios and Corolla Quest and continued growth in used car market shows that affordability remains key for South African consumers, faced with fluctuating fuel prices, exchange rate and potential interest rate increases,” he concludes.
Toyota Financial Services (TFS) shares in the brand’s success, with 7,260 new finance applications processed during September – an increase of 9% month-on-month and 12% up on the six month moving average. “Year to date Toyota Finance applications are up by 8% year-on-year which underlines the strong support TFS offers Toyota dealers,” says Marius Burger, Chief Executive Officer at Toyota Financial Services.
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