EASTERN CAPE MOTOR manufacturers accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the new vehicles sold in South Africa during June. All three local manufacturers – DaimlerChrysler South Africa, Volkswagen South Africa and the Delta Motor Corporation were among the top five new motor vehicle suppliers in the country.

Volkswagen led the new passenger vehicle market, with sales of 4 903 vehicles, bringing the Eastern Cape’s share of that sector to 41 per cent. The three manufacturers accounted for 37 per cent of light commercial vehicle sales. DaimlerChrysler dominated the medium commercial sector, with sales of 113 vehicles compared to the 64 of its nearest rival.

The company also led heavy commercial vehicle sales, according to the official National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) figures. In its comment on the June sales, Naamsa says South Africa says total sales of new vehicles for June, 2001 (32 736 units) were 6.6 per cent up on the corresponding month in 2000 (30 709 units). New car sales at 20 971 units reflected an improvement of 446 units or 2.2 per cent compared to the 20 525 unit sales of the corresponding month of June in 2000.

Sales of new light commercial vehicles and minibuses at 10 722 units for the month of June, 2001 had recorded a significant improvement of 1 694 units, or 18.7 per cent compared to the 9 028 unit sales of the corresponding month last year.

Sales of light commercial vehicles on a year to date basis continued to reflect strong upward momentum, says Naamsa. With half of calendar 2001 accounted for sales of vehicles in the respective sectors remained well ahead of the corresponding six months last year with new car sales 8.4 per cent ahead, light commercial vehicle sales showing growth of 14 per cent and medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales registering an improvement of 4.8 per cent and 7.8 per cent, respectively.