Eastern Cape-based Volkswagen South Africa was the country’s leading supplier of new cars to both the local and export markets for 2001. "Volkswagen South Africa has re-established itself as number one in this growing passenger market with a total of 54 669 Audi and Volkswagen vehicles sold," says VWSA sales and marketing director Jolyon Nash. He was commenting after South Africa’s strongest December sales in five years. The total new car market for December was 239 070, or 6.7 per cent higher than 2000. The Eastern Cape’s three motor manufacturers – VWSA, DaimlerChrysler and Delta – together accounted for over 35 per cent of the total new vehicle market, and 38 per cent of the new passenger vehicle market. December 2001 new passenger car sales at 17 545 units recorded an improvement of 2 766 units, or 18.7 per cent, compared to the 14 779 unit sales recorded during the corresponding month of December in 2000. DaimlerChrysler, which is based in East London, led the heavy commercial vehicle sector, with sales of 132 vehicles in a total market of 518. Delta Motor Corporation director of sales and marketing Ian Nicholls is impressed with the strong showing in the commercial market in 2001. Sales of commercials are seen as a barometer of the health of the economy. Sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses maintained strong upward momentum and at 9 292 unit sales during December 2001 reflected an improvement of 1 771 units, or 23.5 per cent, compared to the 7 521 unit sales of the corresponding month in the previous year. Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the industry during December 2001 also turned in a strong performance and at 346 units and 518 units, respectively, reflected an improvement of 61 units or 21.4 per cent, in the case of medium commercials, and a gain of 63 units or 13.8 per cent, in the case of heavy trucks and buses - compared to the corresponding month last year. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), total annual sales of light commercial vehicle sales rose by 9.4 per cent, those of medium commercials by 4.3 per cent, and heavy commercials by 11.4 per cent. The total market was 7.6 per cent up on 2000. Sales of new vehicles not reported through NAAMSA would probably have added about 15 000 to the 2001 figures (12 500 cars and 2 500 commercial vehicles). Domestic vehicle production in 2001 continued to benefit from further growth in exports of South African produced new cars and commercial vehicles. A year-on-year expected improvement in export sales of about 36 000 vehicles (53 per cent) to 104 000 confirmed South Africa's growing importance as a manufacturer and supplier of vehicles to global markets, according to Naamsa.