Latest news with #NationalAssociationofAutomobileManufacturersofSouthAfrica
The Citizen
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
New vehicle sales extended winning streak for a fifth time in May
An even-split between locally made and imported products within the top 10 models saw offset for the month inch closer to 50 000 unit sales for the first time since March. The Toyota Hilux kept its record intact as the country's best-selling new vehicle and bakkie in May. Image: Toyota South Africa's new vehicle sales showed no let-up with a fifth increase in as many months in May, and the eighth overall since October last year. Hilux and Ranger dominate 2 000+ club In a repeat of April, the Toyota Hilux ended May as the country's best-seller with an offset of 2 458 units, but this time chased by its arch rival, the Ford Ranger, whose 2 147 saw it swap places with the Suzuki Swift that finished third on 1 842. Completing the top-five, the Toyota Corolla Cross retained its fourth place from April with sales of 1 629, this time followed by the Volkswagen Polo Vivo on 1 543. ALSO READ: Toyota Hilux and Suzuki Swift lead new vehicle sales in April Having exchanged places with the Vivo, the Hyundai Grand i10 ranked sixth with 1 537, followed by the Isuzu D-Max on 1 473 and the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro on 1 255. Rounding off an even split been locally made and imported vehicles, the Suzuki Fronx raked-in sales of 1 219 to finish ninth, and the GWM Haval Jolion 1 113 to complete the top 10. Month in detail Having lost some ground from the 50 000 mark in April after moving 42 401 units versus March's 49 493, the May figures from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) registered a year-on-year increase of 22% from 37 139 in 2024, to 45 308 in 2025. Out of the respective segments, only exports ended in the red with a downturn of 14.6% from 35 277 to 30 112. By contrast, new passenger vehicle sales emerged as the biggest highlight with an increase of 30% from last year's 24 419 to 31 741. After picking-up momentum in April following three months of consecutive decreases, light commercial vehicles posted a second uptick in May with an increase of 5.8% from 10 337 to 10 938. Equally, medium-duty commercial vehicle sales rose 22.7% to 660 from 538, while heavy-duty truck and bus sales improved by 6.7% from 1 845 to 1 969. In total, dealer sales made-up 88.4% or 45 038 vehicles sold, with the rest being split up as follows: Rental agencies: 6.8%; Corporate Fleets: 3.0%; Government: 1.8% Naamsa upbeat 'The South African Reserve Bank decision to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points signalled a welcome policy pivot in support of industrial growth, affordability, and macro-economic stability,' Naamsa said. 'The move, which followed a cautious policy hold in March, is widely welcomed by the industry – particularly by Naamsa, as we had previously advocated for an easing in monetary policy to help cushion the sector from escalating global and domestic risks'. In the same statement, Naamsa CEO, Mikel Mabasa, said, 'the reserve bank's latest decision to lower interest rates is both timely and commendable. 'It directly supports consumer affordability and boosts production competitiveness at a time when global uncertainty is weighing heavily on our export markets. While the new tariff measures remain a concern, our industry has proven its resilience time and time again'. Commenting on the finally passed budget speech by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana last month, Naamsa added, 'the reserve bank's policy action demonstrated that price stability and growth need not be mutually exclusive. 'The combination of responsible fiscal management and cautious monetary easing creates room for counter-cyclical support to the real economy, particularly in high-multiplier industries such as automotive manufacturing'. The association further stated,' with inflation easing to 2.8%, still well below the 3%-6% target range, and the Rand regaining strength, the macro-economic environment became more conducive to supporting consumer spending and business investment. 'For South Africa's automotive manufacturing base, the implications of the cut extend beyond retail credit conditions. 'Lower interest rates will reduce borrowing costs for manufacturing, supporting planned capital expenditure, tooling upgrades, and retooling for new models'. Top 10 marques Out of the top 10 best-selling brands, the first eight places remained unchanged from April, with Toyota placing first on 10 330, Suzuki second on 5 536 and Volkswagen third on 4 582. Hyundai stayed steady in fourth with 3 351, with Ford finishing fifth on 2 932 and GWM sixth on 2 059. Chery, meanwhile, kept its seventh place on 1 995 ahead of eighth place Isuzu (1 961), with Mahindra jumping a notch to ninth on 1 524 at the expense of Renault, who departs from the top 10. Returning for the first time since February, Kia ended May in 10th place on 1 406. May Top 50 Best-Sellers Toyota Hilux – 2 548 Ford Ranger – 2 147 Suzuki Swift – 1 842 Toyota Corolla Cross – 1 629 Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 1 543 Hyundai Grand i10 – 1 537 Isuzu D-Max – 1 473 Chery Tiggo 4 Pro – 1 255 Suzuki Fronx – 1 219 GWM Haval Jolion – 1 113 Toyota Starlet – 1 039 Kia Sonet – 870 Mahindra Pik Up – 786 Volkswagen Polo – 767 Suzuki Ertiga – 721 Toyota Starlet Cross – 694 Volkswagen T-Cross – 686 Toyota Fortuner – 679 Toyota Vitz – 624 Toyota Rumion – 618 Toyota HiAce – 617 Nissan Magnite – 570 Mahindra XUV 3X0 – 534 Omoda C5 – 525 Toyota Urban Cruiser – 517 Renault Kiger – 492 Chery Tiggo 7 Pro – 439 Hyundai i20 – 399 Renault Kwid – 393 Nissan Navara – 389 Jetour Dashing – 377 Suzuki Baleno – 371 Hyundai Exter – 368 Toyota Land Cruiser 70-series – 365 GWM P-Series – 348 Renault Triber – 308 Ford Everest – 303 Suzuki Jimny – 300 Volkswagen Amarok – 282 Haval H6 – 281 Ford Territory – 274 Volkswagen Tiguan – 263 Jetour X70 Plus – 243 Suzuki Eeco – 239 Beijing X55 Plus – 234 Hyundai Venue – 220 Citroën C3 Aircross – 217 Foton Tunland G7 – 216 Kia Seltos – 209 Citroën C3 – 192 NOW READ: D-Max surprises as bakkies take top three March new vehicle sales
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Diesel punch gives GWM Tank 300 the edge it always deserved
Long awaited 2.4 litre turbodiesel finally does justice to the retro-styled off-roader, though the usual throttle and transmission calibration niggles remain. Styled to resemble the Soviet-era UAZ 469 military 'jeep', the boxy Tank 300 has it made on the styling front. Images: Charl Bosch By assumption, it can be argued that Great Wall Motors (GWM) had possibly expected a bit more from its Tank brand's first model in South Africa, the 300, after its first full year of sales last year. Tainted success A quick totalling up of the monthly National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) sales figures paints an impressive figure of 516 units for the retro-styled off-roader that faced numerous delays before its eventual arrival in 2024. The entry-point in the Tank range, which is marketed as a standalone brand in China instead of being sold as a GWM, the 300's sales performance admits a compromised choice of powertrains, which international reports have been anything but kind to. Blighted by poor fuel consumption, the 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol has received the bulk of the criticism, while the self-charging 2.0 litre turbocharged HEV hybrid has been received coolly for its anything but hybrid consumption of more than 13 litres per 100 km in some instances. ALSO READ: No more waiting: GWM puts sticker price on Tank 300 Diesel While praised for its 255kW/648Nm, which saw Road Test Editor Mark Jones clock a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 6.9 seconds at Gerotek last year, the HEV's attempt to balance power with efficiency while moving nearly 2.3 tons simply doesn't suit a vehicle designed from the onset as a hardcore off-roader. At the same time, the 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 has also been ruled out as the vehicle that uses it, the limited edition Tank 330, won't be offered outside the People's Republic anytime soon. Diesel 'a must' The solution was, therefore, an easy one and on the back of significant pressure from Australia, the Tank 300 officially debuted a turbodiesel engine last year in a move GWM chair Wei Jianjun described as an issue that could no longer be avoided. Using the GW4D24 2.4 litre oil burner that debuted in the facelift P Series, known as P300 in South Africa earlier this year, the Tank 300 Diesel's knock-on effect involved its confirmation for the local market, where sales for the first four months have so far totalled 297 units. Unveiled at GWM's annual dealer prize-giving conference in February, the diesel also becomes the entry-level power unit in the Tank 300 lineup despite its greater displacement than the admittedly more powerful petrol and HEV. The tested model is the flagship Ultra Luxury. A move that could be seen as making the petrol and hybrid almost redundant, the arrival of the diesel for the week-long test left no second guessing as to which model would soon become the most sought after. Initially thought to be entry-level Super Luxury, the white test unit turned-out to be range-topping Ultra Luxury priced at R739 990. A sticker that undercuts the comparative petrol by R39 960 and the HEV by R189 960, the Ultra Luxury doesn't lose out in spec either as GWM had simply carried the former's list of features over into the diesel without skimping on anything. Styling done right Styled to resemble the Soviet-era UAZ 469 military 'jeep' , with a few elements from the Ford Bronco present down the side and at the rear, the 300 looks purposeful and rugged in a manner its more upmarket sibling, the plusher Tank 500, simply cannot match. Top-spec Ultra Luxury rides on 18 inch alloy wheels. Perched on 18 inch alloy wheels versus the 17 inch fitted to the Super Luxury, the Ultra Luxury strikes an imposing figure. The only giveaway of its difference from the petrol is a chrome 2.4T badge above the 4×4 decal on the tailgate. Simple but upmarket inside As incremental as the exterior changes are, the interior is virtually identical. GWM has retained the dual 12.3 inch displays, ambient lighting, wireless smartphone charger, heated and cooled front seats, and dual-zone climate control. Bizarrely, the test unit didn't feature Nappa leather upholstery or even the Infiniti-branded nine-speaker sound system, which led to confusion about whether it was indeed the Super Luxury or the Ultra Luxury. The presence, however, of the bigger wheels, 'aired' seats and heated steering wheel gave the game up. However, it still remains unclear why the former items weren't present. The interior feels neat, looks premium, has a bar around the gear lever and relies on physical switchgear. Mystery aside, the interior is a welcome departure from other Chinese vehicles in that physical switchgear still dominates what remains a clean and uncluttered cabin with Mercedes-Benz-style turbine air vents and an aircraft throttle-inspired gear lever. Spacious in typical Chinese fashion, the fit and finish is equally impressive. Soft-touch plastics and leathers cover most surfaces, with a fetching imitation brushed aluminium decorative inlay on the passenger's side. Less impressive, the plastics around the gear lever sounded clunky and felt cheap. However, it could be argued that most buyers are unlikely to be phased about what is still a premium-feeling place to be. Ultra Luxury has been equipped with four off-road driving modes and a front diff-lock to go with the rear fitted as standard on the step-down Super Luxury. In addition, the infotainment system, which gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is relatively easy to use thanks to GWM's streamlined design, which eliminates pages and pages of sub-menus. Comfort has also not been sacrificed. Apart from the snug seats that can drop all the way down to the bottom, the instrument binnacle integration into the dashboard means no obscured view of the readouts, as in recently tested Chinese vehicles. Clambering into the back is just as good as the sunroof doesn't impact on headroom at all, while legroom is unlikely to result in any protests. Boot space with the rear seats up is 400 litres. It increases to 1 635 litres with the split back folded down. Besides the pair of vents, the Ultra Luxury also gets a pair of USB ports and a central armrest with twin cupholders. Tugging open the hinged tailgate with the spare wheel affixed, the boxy design reveals a 400 litre boot that looks surprisingly small on first glance. Somewhat of a faff, unlocking more space requires a two-tiered approach involving lifting the seat squabs first and then pulling the tag that drops the seat backs. Once done, luggage space increases to 1 635 litres, though once again, this appears smaller than GWM's claim. Powerplant stunner unfairly spoiled The business end of the Tank 300 is, of course, its new powerplant, which develops the same 135kW/480Nm as in the P300. Tipping the scales at a heavier 2 280 kg, though, the engine pulls with just enough verve for the 300 not to feel underpowered. The biggest highlight is the new 2.4 litre turbodiesel engine 'borrowed' from the facelift P300. The caveat, though, is that immediate response could, and should, have been better had it not been for the usual Chinese vehicle irritation of a poorly calibrated throttle mismatched with the transmission. It's a handicap that almost spoils not only driveability but also the engine itself. The delayed accelerator input results in the Tank 300 being momentarily without power and ponderous as the drivetrain tries to sort itself out. Leather seats are electric, heated, ventilated and with a massaging function for the fronts. For its part, the nine-speed automatic gearbox shifts smoothly once on the move, but tends to lose its way on downshifts and becomes erratic. More accomplished is the ride that irons out imperfections with little notice, as well as refinement in that little to no road or engine noise filters into the cabin. In addition, despite a full array of safety and driver assistance systems, none are intrusive and can be switched off permanently until being switched on again. Made for the bush On the off-road front, the Parament four-wheel-drive system has not been touched from the petrol and, as such, retains the low-range transfer and four off-road modes: Mud, Sand, Snow, and Expert, to go with the Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes. Further included are the transparent chassis view camera, Crawl Control, a front diff lock that adds to the rear available from the start in the Super Luxury and the 360-degree Tank Turn, which, unlike in the all-electric Mercedes-Benz G580, doesn't spin the 300 through 360 degrees in its own tracks. The transparent under-body camera system comes standard on the Ultra Luxury. Instead, the system locks the turning rear wheel, similar to Ford's Trail Turn Assist. It requires the low range to be selected in conjunction with the Crawl Control. Pressing a third button activates the Tank Turn, meant to aid entry and turning in tight off-road spaces. A setup that can be seen as a bit gimmicky, it nonetheless still comes as one of the Tank's USPs in confirming its credentials as a serious off-roader. If already not 'off-road approved' enough, the diesel, as with the petrol and hybrid, has a ground clearance of 224mm, an approach angle of 33 degrees, a departure angle of 34 degrees and a breakover angle of 23.1 degrees. High consumption no more Always the main point of content with most Chinese vehicles, the conclusion of the Tank's week-long stay involved fuel consumption. Possibly the biggest payoff, besides the price tag, the 410km spent with the diesel saw the trip computer display a best figure of 8.8 L/100 km, way less than the 14.8 L/100 km recorded by the petrol last year and the HEV's 13.9 L/100 km. Conclusion It goes without saying that the arrival of the diesel has been worth the wait. GWM is finally giving the Tank 300 the engine it deserves. Although unfairly hobbled by the throttle and transmission programming, it still manages to excel where the petrol and hybrid have faltered. Although a brand of its own in China, in South Africa it will be known as the GWM Tank 300. While the Ultra Luxury will undoubtedly prove the derivative to have, smart money remains on the Super Luxury, which, minus a few features, can be had for R699 990. That being said, what version ultimately wins the buyer's signature still makes for an overall package that has suddenly become even tougher to beat. NOW READ: GWM Chairman makes it official: Diesel Tank 300 on the way
Zawya
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
South Africa considering auto industry incentives as tariff buffer
South Africa is considering offering additional incentives to automakers to help cushion the impact of US President Donald Trump's tariffs on cars, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said on Thursday. "What we're currently considering is the possibility of expanding the automotive industry production plan so that we're able to mitigate the impact in our industry," Tau said in an interview with radio broadcaster Power FM. "We're currently modelling what the potential package could be for the auto sector, but also for other sectors so that we can do it within the means of the country to buffer the impact." The Automotive Production and Development Programme is an incentive programme that helps drive investment, innovation and job creation in the automotive industry. It offers various rebates and refunds on customs duties and manufacturers also receive incentives based on their production volumes. The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa has expressed concern over the 25% U.S. import tariff on cars, saying that it cannot be absorbed by manufacturers, which will result in additional costs for US consumers and a reduced choice of South African-produced brands. The US is the third-largest destination for South African automotive exports, with approximately R35bn ($1.8bn) worth of vehicles shipped in 2024, accounting for 6.5% of total vehicle exports in 2024. South African-based manufacturing plants operated by BMW, Ford, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Toyota - which produce vehicles for global markets, including the U.S. - will be severely impacted Naamsa added.
