Light commercial vehicle sales in South Africa fell again in October, dropping 5.9%, despite new vehicle sales overall showing a marginal 0.2% increase in the same month, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA).

Overall domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, and other similar segments, reached 13,366 units during October 2019, and recorded a decline of 833 units or a fall of 5.9% from the 14,199 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year. However, the medium commercial segment saw an increase of 63 vehicles or a gain of 8.1%, and heavy trucks and buses, saw an improvement of 32 units, or an increase of 1.7% compared to the corresponding month last year.

Meanwhile, aggregate domestic new vehicle sales, at 51,978 units, reflected a marginal increase of 122 units or 0.2% from the 51,856 vehicles sold in October last year, according to NAAMSA.

Overall, out of the total reported industry sales of 51,978 vehicles, an estimated 3.7% went  to industry corporate fleets. 

Meanwhile, the October 2019 new passenger car market increased by 860 cars or 2.5% to 35,904 units compared to the 35,044 new cars sold in October last year.