During November 2 820 trucks were sold pushing the industry’s year-to-date total to 28 538 units, which is a 12.57% increase on October’s sales.  This positive result also means that the industry managed to surpass 2012’s total sales of 27 474 units in eleven months.

This is 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 of UD Trucks Southern Africa, says ,“All segments within the commercial vehicle market increased sales on a month-to-month basis, continuing to surpass most industry forecasts. It is interesting to note that the recent spate of industrial action as well as economic growth downgrading had little to no effect on the truck market.”

An average growth rate of around the 10% mark was maintained throughout the year, well above the 3% increase in sales predicted earlier in the year.

“Most of the truck sales now are driven by some aggressive replacement campaigns by fleet owners, as they gear up to meet the growing transport needs of a number of region-wide infrastructure developmental projects in the power generation, water and logistics, as well as mining sectors. During November, the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) also improved to 51.6, a further indication of the country’s improved economic growth in the fourth quarter.”

On a month-to-month basis, sales in the Medium Commercial Vehicle segment increased by 12.7% to 1 003 units, while the Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment saw an increase of 30.6% to 555 units.  The Extra Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment experienced a slight improvement of 3.63% to conclude the month on 1 161 units.

Concludes Carelse, “With the year already showing an improved performance over 2012’s results, the units sold during the usually slower December holiday period are surely a bonus and will set the scene for the industry’s performance for the year to come.”