| Market segment | Sept 2014 | Sept 2015 | % change |
| Passenger vehicles | 42,965 | 37,309 | -13,2% |
| Light commercial vehicles | 15,076 | 15,121 | 0,3% |
| Medium commercial vehicles | 902 | 890 | -1,3% |
| Heavy commercial vehicles | 496 | 527 | 6,3% |
| Extra Heavy commercial vehicles | 1,226 | 1381 | 12,6% |
| Bus | 117 | 94 | -19,7% |
| Vehicle exports | 30,790 | 35,181 | 14,3% |
| Overall market (local) | 91,572 | 90,503 | -1,2% |
Hilux topped the auto industry sales chart for the fifth time this year with Toyota delivering 3431 vehicles to new owners in September. This gives Toyota’s evergreen bakkie a YTD sales lead of 726 units over its nearest rival in the battle for line honours as SA’s best-selling model.
Further amplifying Toyota’s chart-topping performance during the month were good showings by three of the company’s passenger car offerings. Corolla, Corolla Quest and Etios racked up sales of 1227, 1527 and 1602 units respectively, lifting Toyota’s monthly retail tally to 11701. (The Corolla and Corolla Quest numbers are particularly impressive – these two model ranges accounting 45 per cent of Toyota’s passenger car sales.) Not forgetting, of course, the segment-leading 1107-unit contribution of the now locally produced Quantum range.
Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Toyota South Africa Motors, is heartened by the latest results: “Despite a gloomy economic outlook that saw the overall vehicle market decline by 9.0% in comparison with the same period last year, Toyota actually managed to increase market share in September 2015 to 21,2 per cent – a laudable result indeed. This was on the back of yet another stellar performance by Hilux.”
On the commercial vehicle front, Hino reclaimed the second sales spot thanks to a very commendable retail total of 391 units which equates to 13,5 per cent market share. Credit must go to the Hino 300 Series / Toyota Dyna with cumulative sales of 223 units accounting for 25 per cent share of the Medium Commercial Vehicle segment.
It’s worth noting that upcoming new models will further bolster Toyota’s position as the market leader.
“Over the next few months, Toyota sales will benefit from all-new model introductions such as the Aygo which is planned for October. The ever-popular Avanza was also the recent recipient of an extensive upgrade that brought bold new styling, under-the-skin refinements and even better value to the range. We further expect another surge in customer demand with the arrival of the next-generation Hilux in early 2016, followed closely by the introduction of the highly-anticipated new Fortuner,” Calvyn said.
Also view:
Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety
Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer