On 21 February, naamsa released its quarterly review of business conditions for the South African motor vehicle manufacturing industry, during the fourth quarter of 2022, as submitted to the Director-General of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
Some of the areas the document covers include industry vehicle sales, export and import statistics for 2014 through to 2022, and current projections for 2023 and 2024.
Here are the key features regarding the Fourth Quarter of 2022:
- New vehicle sales increased by 16.0% compared to the corresponding quarter in 2021 but only by 0.1% compared to the previous quarter 2022, highlighting the above expectations performance in 2022 but at the same time the impact of supply chain disruptions and economic pressures on the new vehicle market;
- New energy vehicle [NEV] sales by 15 industry brands increased by 66.0% from 953 units in the third quarter to 1,583 units in fourth quarter 2022 and year-on-year by a significant 431.7% in 2022;
- Fourth quarter 2022 industry employment reflected a decline of 823 jobs to reach 33,477 positions at end December 2022 but still reflected an overall positive performance for the full year;
- Average industry capacity utilisation levels during fourth quarter 2022 continued to recover from the severe impact of the KwaZulu-Natal flooding disaster earlier in the year despite a Transnet strike and consequent force majeure declared along with persistent load-shedding during the quarter;
- Aggregate capital expenditure by the major vehicle manufacturers in 2022 amounted to R7.1 billion, linked to new generation model investments;
- Fourth quarter 2022 domestic vehicle production reflected an increase of 25.7% compared to the corresponding quarter in 2021, with all segments reflecting growth in line with higher domestic demand and export growth;
- During fourth quarter 2022, vehicle exports increased by 31.1% to 88,394 units compared to the 67,410 units exported in the corresponding quarter in 2021, despite a deteriorating global economic environment.
According to a Reuters report, China's automotive sector faces an unprecedented crisis beneath its outward success. Despite becoming the world's largest car exporter and producing global leaders like BYD and Geely, the industry is trapped in a destructive spiral threatening widespread bankruptcies.
Volkswagen is abandoning its separate electric vehicle naming convention, opting instead to align its battery-electric models with established combustion engine nameplates. The German automaker announced that the strategy shift would begin with the ID Polo, set to debut in 2026.
Europe's automotive industry has issued a unified call for the European Union (EU) to recalibrate its green transition strategy, with leading manufacturers and suppliers expressing growing concerns about the feasibility of current electrification timelines and regulatory frameworks.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.
Daniel Pink
According to a Reuters report, China's automotive sector faces an unprecedented crisis beneath its outward success. Despite becoming the world's largest car exporter and producing global leaders like BYD and Geely, the industry is trapped in a destructive spiral threatening widespread bankruptcies.
Europe's automotive industry has issued a unified call for the European Union (EU) to recalibrate its green transition strategy, with leading manufacturers and suppliers expressing growing concerns about the feasibility of current electrification timelines and regulatory frameworks.
South African business sentiment deteriorated further in the third quarter of 2025, falling one point to reach 39, well below the long-term benchmark of 42 points, as punitive US tariffs took their toll on exporters, Reuters reported on Wednesday
