Suzuki posts new record as vehicle sales rise in September

Suzuki has posted its highest ever monthly sales since returning to South Africa over a decade ago by leapfrogging Ford, Nissan and Hyundai to become the country’s third best-selling marque in September.

According to the latest National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) figures, the Hamamatsu based brand shifted 3 134 vehicles last month with the Swift remaining its top-seller on 935, followed by the S-Presso (504) and Vitara Brezza (455).

The automaker had further reasons to smile after the latter’s rebadged sibling, Toyota Urban Cruiser, took the final position on the overall podium with a record 1 827 examples moved.

Suzuki’s achievements, plus an impressive showing by the Renault Kiger (1 126), capped off another positive month for the local industry with an overall increase of 15.8% from 37 237 last year to 43 130, the fifth consecutive uptake of the year so far.

As in previous months, the various segments remained mixed with new passenger vehicles recording another solid increase of 30.5% from 22 643 to 29 538, while light commercial vehicles went the other way by decreasing 10.9% from 12 281 to 10 943.

After ending August in the red, medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles bounced back in September with respective increases of 11.6% and 15.8% to 762 and 1 887 units.

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For a third straight month though, vehicle exports lost traction with a massive downturn of 57.0% from last year’s 28 390 to a mere 12 202.

“The new vehicle market continued to show further good recovery during the month of September 2021 in line with the country’s return to adjusted level 2 lockdown regulations and overall enhanced business and consumer sentiment,” Naamsa said.

“New vehicle demand is starting to pick up with consumers, businesses and rental companies returning to the market. However, many Covid-19 disruptive elements remain in play and prevailing market conditions have been hampered by higher logistics costs and supply chain disruptions, such as the global semi-conductor shortages impacting on the availability of certain models”.

Aside from Suzuki’s mentioned performance, Toyota kept its position of best performing manufacturer with sales of 10 936, followed by Volkswagen on 7 029.

Behind Suzuki, Hyundai placed fourth on 2 930 followed by Renault (2 520), Nissan (2 330), Kia (2 230), Ford (2 021), Haval (1 990) and Isuzu (1 924).

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