Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles and medium- and heavy-trucks in South Africa  recorded a significant decline amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA).

Light commercial vehicle sales were at 9,425 units during March 2020, which was a significant decline of 5,570 units, or a fall of 37.1%, from the 14,995 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.

Meanwhile, sales for medium- and heavy-truck segments of the industry also performed weaker and at 631 units and 1,289 units, respectively, according to NAAMSA. This reflected a decline of 146 vehicles or a fall of 18.8% in the case of medium commercial vehicles, and, in the case of heavy trucks a decline of 295 vehicles or a fall of 18.6% compared to the corresponding month last year.

Overall, the aggregate domestic new vehicle sales numbers continue to decline at the back of the recent developments around the coronavirus and challenging economic conditions in the country. 

The new vehicle sales statistics for March 2020 reflects a substantial decline of 14,150 units or 29.7% from the 47,695 vehicles sold in March last year, to the aggregate domestic sales of 33,545 units in March 2020. Of the 33,545 units sold, 4.4% went to corporate fleets.