Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has sustained its exemplary sales performance in the South African new-car market in 2023, with 9 423 sales in April, bringing the company’s year-to-date sales figures to 47 935. The sales performance in April accounts for a 25.3% market share of the overall 37 107-unit car market, making TSAM the leading vehicle sales company in the country. This performance is even more impressive, considering there were only 17 trading days in the month of April.
The Toyota Hilux continues to be the top performer in the LCV segment (2 186 units), with 917 Hilux Double Cabs, 379 Extra Cabs and 890 Single Cabs sold. 3 978 total LCV sales were bolstered by 369 Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 1 190 Hiaces and 126 Quantums. The highly popular Corolla Cross is the best-selling Toyota passenger car once again, with 1 281 units retailed, followed by the Toyota Fortuner with 695 units sold in only its second month of sales. Other impressive performers in passenger cars include the the Starlet, which sold 1 098 units, as well as the highly practical Rumion (345 units). Lexus, TSAM’s luxury arm, also performed ahead of expectations in the month with a total of 66 units sold across all nameplates.
Despite the reduced trading days in April due to public holidays and long weekends, TSAM’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Leon Theron, expressed his delight with the dealers’ performance, stating: “As we know, a protracted month like April is always difficult, nevertheless, everyone has been working around the clock to ensure stock is delivered timeously. To sell 9 423 sales in just 17 days is a great achievement and is only possible due to the commitment of every single staff member, from the executives to those in the wash bay. I want to thank each and every one of them.”
TSAM is not only the best selling Passenger and Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) manufacturer, but heads up Medium Commercial Vehicle (MCV) sales, too. In MCV and HCV, the highest recorded sales came from the Hino 300-Series, with 87 units and 500-series with 71 units sold respectively.
For the month of April, parts supply remained competitive with 1.2 million pieces, with a further 240 000 pieces shipped to foreign markets, for a total of 1 454 024 pieces.
According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (naamsa): “On releasing the April 2023 statistics, naamsa notes the continued constraints as a result of ongoing subdued economic conditions. The International Monetary Fund [IMF] announced that SA’s real GDP growth is expected to decelerate sharpely to 0.1% for 2023, citing loadshedding, amongst other related supply shocks.”
Naamsa says the 37 107 aggregate domestic new-vehicle sales in April 2023 reflects a decline of 88 vehicle units, or 0.2 %, from the 37 195 vehicles sold in April last year. However, 175 678 units year-to-date for April 2023 is an increase of 2 291 units, or 1.3%, compared to the same period last year.
“There is a lot of disruption in the market right now, but we are committed to providing high-quality vehicles that meet the needs of our customers and, most crucially, show that we are ready to do business. Our strong sales performance this month is a testament to the company’s ongoing efforts to maintain its position as the leader in the local automotive industry,” concludes Theron.
