{"id":552304,"date":"2022-01-22T17:00:23","date_gmt":"2022-01-22T15:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=552304"},"modified":"2022-01-21T15:52:18","modified_gmt":"2022-01-21T13:52:18","slug":"south-africas-best-selling-suvs-and-crossovers-right-now-including-5-priced-under-r300000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/552304\/south-africas-best-selling-suvs-and-crossovers-right-now-including-5-priced-under-r300000\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa’s best-selling SUVs and crossovers right now – including 5 priced under R300,000"},"content":{"rendered":"

Data from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) shows that the new vehicle market declined during December 2021, capping a year of challenges that included additional Covid-19 waves and variants, and several domestic socio-economic issues.<\/p>\n

Aggregate new car sales of 35 948 units declined 3.5% or 1,302 units against the data from a year ago, December 2020. However, New passenger car sales of 24,949 units was up marginally, by 1.7% or 408 units compared to December 2020.<\/p>\n

The top five manufacturers for the month were as follows:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Toyota \u2013 9,580 units<\/li>\n
  2. Volkswagen \u2013 5,131 units<\/li>\n
  3. Hyundai \u2013 2,892 units<\/li>\n
  4. Nissan \u2013 2,417 units<\/li>\n
  5. Ford \u2013 2,181 units<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    SUVs and crossover vehicles continue to be a popular choice for motorists in South Africa, accounting for 13 of the top 30 vehicle brands sold in December 2021. A number of crossovers were introduced into the local market in 2021, gaining almost immediate traction due to their favourable price point and fuel economy.<\/p>\n

    Looking ahead to the market and prospects in 2022, Naamsa said that while the<\/span> new vehicle market has seen substantial growth since the initial shock of the Covid outbreak, it has not been sufficient <\/span>to return to pre<\/span>–<\/span>Covid<\/span>–<\/span>19 levels in 2021.<\/span> A sustained higher domestic economic growth rate is essential <\/span>to support higher domestic new vehicle sales volumes, it said.<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, with a<\/span> GDP growth rate forecast of a <\/span>moderate 1,8% in 2022, the<\/span> new vehicle market is expected to continue its gradual recovery during the <\/span>year, but at a slower pace and a<\/span>t this stage a year<\/span>–<\/span>on<\/span>–<\/span>year improvement of around 8% in aggregate new<\/span>
    vehic<\/span>le sales volumes is projected for 2022. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Factoring in the expected year<\/span>–<\/span>on<\/span>–<\/span>year improvement in <\/span>vehicle exports of around<\/span> 1<\/span>5<\/span>%, an improvement in industry vehicle production of about 1<\/span>7<\/span>% is projected<\/span> for 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n

    “The automotive industry is not only the largest<\/span> manufacturing sector in the South African <\/span>economy, but it also invests billions of Rand every year, and represents about 460<\/span> 000 highly skilled, <\/span>direct jobs in its formal sector supply chain.<\/span> With constant economic shifts and global disruptions<\/span> the <\/span>order o<\/span>f the day<\/span>, companies<\/span> must<\/span> capitalise on smart business models that will fuel their growth matrix.”<\/span><\/p>\n

    L<\/span>oad<\/span>–<\/span>shedding will remain an area of great concern in 2022,<\/span> limiting the economy\u2019s ability to reach full <\/span>ca<\/span>pacity, said Naamsa<\/span>.<\/span> Furthermore,<\/span> the<\/span> realities<\/span> of<\/span> rising<\/span> interest<\/span> rates<\/span> and<\/span> fuel<\/span> prices<\/span> are<\/span> expected<\/span> to<\/span> impact<\/span> vehicle <\/span>affordability<\/span> as<\/span> household<\/span> budgets<\/span> remain<\/span> under<\/span> pressure,<\/span> dimming<\/span> the<\/span> hopes<\/span> of<\/span> a<\/span> further<\/span> strong <\/span>recovery<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> economy<\/span> any<\/span> time<\/span> soon, it added.
    \n<\/span><\/p>\n

    Below are the top-selling SUV’s and crossover vehicles in the country right now:<\/p>\n

    \n

    Toyota Corolla Cross \u2014 1,752 units<\/strong><\/p>\n