The Automotive Business Council (naamsa) released its second Automotive Trade Manual 2025 publication, previously published by naamsa under the banner of the Automotive Industry Export Council [AIEC].
This iconic publication is the official source of all automotive trade data and other relevant information to the automotive industry in South Africa.
In a taxing year, the domestic automotive industry in 2024, for the first time since the 2020 pandemic, encountered a modest downturn in both domestic new-vehicle sales and vehicle exports. This can be attributed to several factors, including persistent inflationary pressures, climate effects on operations and geopolitical instability.
Despite a stronger year-end performance supported by strong seasonal sales to the vehicle rental industry, easing inflation and two interest rate cuts, new-vehicle sales decreased by 3.0% to 515 850 units in 2024, compared to the 531 552 units sold in 2023.
The confluence of positive economic indicators and the resilience of the passenger car segment during the last quarter of 2024 suggest a potential rebound for the new-vehicle market in 2025 to return to the pre-pandemic level after five years.
Read the manual here.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
Pinewood.AI has added two new embedded modules to its Business Intelligence Solution, giving dealers and OEMs greater insight into financial performance and the customer journey, it says.
Margins are shrinking, customers are under financial strain, and competition is intensifying across South Africa’s motor retail sector. Against this backdrop, dealerships are being forced to rethink how they remain profitable while still building customer trust and long term sustainability.
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