Continuing its strong performance in July, the South African truck market recorded a 15% year-on-year increase, with 2 819 units sold during the month. Looking at the year-to-date figures, the market grew by 8.1% and currently stands at 17 666 trucks sold during 2013.

These figures are according to the latest combined results released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), Associated Motor Holdings (AMH) and Amalgamated Automobile Distributors (AAD).

Jacques Carelse, MD at UD Trucks Southern Africa says, “The performance of the local industry is in line with our market outlook and expectations. The healthy state of the market can, to a large extent, be attributed to higher levels of investment spending relating to the numerous infrastructure development projects currently underway around the country.”

“Pre-emptive buying by fleet owners wanting toavoid further increases in new vehicle prices as a result of the weaker Rand, also attributed to the healthy growth of the industry during August, which all makes for a highly competitive trading environment.”

Looking at the year-to-date comparisons of the various market segments, Medium Commercial Vehicle sales increased by 11.5% to 6 624 units.  Sales in the Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment grew by 7.2% to 3 037 units, while the Extra Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment continued its strong run with 7 431 total sales, an increase of 8.2%

Concludes Carelse, “For the remainder of the year we expect growth in the trucking sector to slow down as a result of the country’s subdued economic growth.However, taking into account some expected inflation-linked new vehicle price increases, we still believe the market will grow between 3 and 4% during 2013.”