Biggest vehicle-exporters from SA in September 2018...

Volkswagen SA rocketed up the table to take second place.

For September 2018, Naamsa said South Africa’s export vehicle sales hit an “all-time high”. Yes, the month’s aggregate export vehicle sales represented a record number at 36 781 units, an improvement of 440 units or a gain of 1,2% compared with the 36 341 vehicles exported in September 2017.

So, let’s take a look at which automakers were the biggest exporters from South Africa for the month.

Mercedes-Benz remained in first place, exporting 9 700 examples (down 348 units, month on month) of its C-Class from the East London plant. The Volkswagen Group, meanwhile, rocketed two places up the table to second, exporting 9 440 examples (up a whopping 4 172 units) of its Polo hatchback from Uitenhage.

Ford thus fell to third place, shipping off 6 552 units (comprising 6 547 units of the Ranger and five units of the Everest) from its Silverton facility in the month. This represents a slight decline of 192 units. The BMW Group also fell one spot (to fourth), with its Rosslyn plant churning out 5 680 examples of the X3 for foreign markets, representing a small increase of 148 units.

Toyota held steady in fifth with an export figure of 4 105, including 3 823 examples of its Hilux, 176 units of the Fortuner and 96 vehicles from its Corolla/Quest line (all built at its Prospecton factory), plus ten examples of Hino trucks. This total is up 523 units on the Japanese firm’s effort in August.

Nissan improved 236 units to 701 (made up of 593 Hardbody units, 61 NP200s and 47 NP300s) to place sixth, while Isuzu fell 73 units to 349 (including 336 examples of the KB bakkie and 13 units of the MU-X) to again take seventh.

For reference, see August 2018’s list here…