VOLKSWAGEN POLO TOPS SALES CHARTS

During July 2010 a total of 29 203 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa. Total new passenger car sales in July increased by nine percent when compared to June 2010, and by 32.4 percent when compared to July 2009, bringing the year-to-date July market in 2010 to a level 28.6 percent above the same period for 2009.

“Volkswagen Group South Africa was again the front runner

in the passenger market with sales of 6 949 cars and a resultant market share of 23.8%,” commented Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa.

“The new Polo Vivo achieved record monthly sales of 3 141 units and thereby firmly entrenched itself as South Africa’s favourite car Brand since its introduction to the market in March of this year,” said Glendinning.

“New Polo achieved second place on the podium, with sales of 1 505 units.”

“Of significance was the July export volume of 7 728 New Polos to global right hand drive markets. Our global markets are holding up well and we are on track to achieve the full year planned export volume of 75 000 Polos,” said Glendinning.

“Audi sold 1 188 units in the premium segment, thereby capturing 4.1% of the total passenger market and  establishing the Brand’s best full month result year to date.”

“Sales of new passenger cars continued to perform well in July, with the selling rate of new passenger cars per day achieving the third highest monthly level for the year to date. As is usually the case for the month of July, sales to rental car companies provided an elevated base of support for new car sales during the month, despite the above average demand from rental car companies during the first quarter of the year ahead of the Soccer World Cup.”

“New car sales also continue to be supported by an ongoing slow recovery in overall levels of economic activity, and while rates of economic growth are expected to slow during the second half of the year, both manufacturing production and retail sales are reflecting growth. These developments will continue to be supported by an already low and, in the short term, probably declining rate of inflation and ongoing slow improvement in real household disposable income. Marginal improvement is also occurring in credit extension to the private sector and while rates of growth are still at historically low levels, credit extension to the private sector is no longer contracting with May and June data reflecting marginal growth.”

“The annual rate of growth in real new vehicle prices has once again fallen into negative territory providing an important base of support for the new passenger car market. The market is also increasingly being supported by growth in replacement demand as the cars that compromised the boom in sales during the 2003 to 2006 period, steadily age and ultimately require replacement.”

“Should current trends continue, the new passenger car market for 2010 could potentially end up approximately twenty five percent up on the market recorded in 2009,” concluded Glendinning.

STORY BY VOLKSWAGEN