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aftermarket replacement parts into the country has subsequently increased over recent years. The growth of cheaper products, imported mainly from China, has exacerbated this trend. In 2017, the import of replacement parts marginally declined by 1,2%, to R59,03 billion, from the R59,75 billion in 2016, in line with the strengthening of the rand exchange rate against all major currencies.
Electric Vehicles Market
Domestic hybrid petrol and diesel vehicle sales comprised 306 units in 2017, down from the 515 units in 2016; while electric car sales, including the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3, declined from 100 units in 2016 to 68 units in 2017.
Heavy Duty Market
A large number of company brands are involved in the commercial vehicle sector in South Africa. A challenge is the great number of truck application segments. This is a complex compound mix of wheelbase, gross vehicle mass (GVM), cab configuration, gross combination mass (GCM) and price-variable positioning, all pushed into freight carriers, tippers, compactors, truck tractors and other specialist applications. In 2017, the medium commercial vehicle segment consisted of 17 brands with 158 model derivatives to choose from; in the heavy commercial vehicle segment there were 13 brands with 142 model derivatives; in the extra-heavy commercial vehicle segment there were 20 brands with 487 model derivatives; and in the bus segment there were 8 brands with 48 model derivatives. In these highly competitive segments companies need to react swiftly to changes in truck market forces, otherwise missed opportunities could mean loss of market share.
Total commercial vehicle export sales from South Africa declined by 6,1% to 991 units in 2017 when
compared to 2016’s results of 1 055 units. In the domestic market, the lack of growth in the economy
has continued to negatively impact on the domestic truck market. Medium commercial vehicles declined by 7,7% from the 8 432 units sold in 2016 to 7 782 units sold in 2017. The shrinking MCV market is an indication that small businesses are struggling in the current tough domestic economic environment.
Heavy commercial vehicle sales declined by 3,0% from the 5 452 units sold in 2016 to 5 289 units sold in 2017; extra-heavy commercial vehicles increased by 2,0% to 12 091 units in 2017 compared to the 11 850 units sold in 2016; while bus sales declined by 11,4% to 1 131 units in 2017 compared to the 1 276 units sold in 2016. Isuzu Truck South Africa has held onto its position for four consecutive years as the bestselling truck brand in the medium and heavy commercial segments, Mercedes-Benz was the leader in the extra-heavy commercial vehicle segment, and MAN in the bus segment in 2017. The buoyant rental market suggests that more customers are renting trucks and not buying them. The truck market
best prospects