Toyota Thrives in the South African Vehicle Market
According to NAAMSA, there's a concerning trend in declining new vehicle sales due to factors like load-shedding and Transnet crises. In November 2023, there were just over 45,000 registrations, down 9.8% from the previous year's nearly 50,000 registrations. Toyota's Senior VP for Sales and Marketing, Leon Theron, expressed worry about this sales decline, especially considering the economic climate. He noted that 2022's sales were far from pre-pandemic levels. However, Toyota's performance is bright, with 11,891 units sold, securing a 26.4% market share. Theron thanked the team and customers for their support, aiming for a 27% market share.
Regarding sales highlights, Toyota led in three categories: passenger, LCV, and MCV. Notable passenger models included the Corolla Cross, Starlet, Vitz, and Fortuner. The Corolla range (Hatch, Sedan, and Quest) contributed significantly. In the LCV segment, Toyota sold 5,042 units in November, with the Hilux leading. Toyota also dominated the MCV market with 129 Hino 300 Series, 71 Coasters, and 31 Quantums, totalling 231 sales. Additionally, they supplied over 1.5 million parts locally and exported 321,838 pieces in November.
