The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (NAAMSA) states that during March commercial vehicle segments registered gains – light commercials 3.7%, heavy commercial vehicles 7.6% and extra heavy trucks 20.8 %.

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses at 15 848 units during March 2014 reflected an improvement of 559 units or 3.7% compared to the 15 289 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry at 947 units and 1 770 units, respectively, reflected a mixed performance with a decline of 61 units or a fall of 6.1% in the case of medium commercial vehicles, and an impressive gain of 229 units or an improvement of 14.9%, in the case of heavy trucks and buses, compared to the corresponding month last year.

Prospects for the balance of the year would continue to be affected by subdued economic growth, above inflation new vehicle price increases as a result of exchange rate weakness and upward pressure on interest rates.