- Total vehicle sales, reported by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), have increased by 2.2% m/m in November, following a 6.6% m/m rise in October. Total vehicle sales growth was up 27.4% y/y, from 18.2% y/y in October.
- Total car sales growth (including sales from Associated Motor Holdings (AMH) and Amalgamated Automobile Distributors (AAD)) increased to 29.6% y/y in November, up from 22.2% y/y in October.
- Passenger car sales (NAAMSA) accelerated to 24.2% y/y in November, (but rose strongly, by 28.9% y/y, when sales from AMH and AAD are included) from 18.6% y/y in October. Passenger car sales from AMH and AAD moderated to 53.9% y/y in November after a 61.2% y/y rise was posted in October.
- Passenger car sales (NAAMSA) declined by 2.9% m/m in November, from 4.4% m/m in October. This is in keeping with expectations, as consumers usually postpone their purchases to the New Year. However, y/y growth in passenger car sales continued to be supported by base effects.
- Total commercial vehicle sales picked up the pace, rising by 31.1% y/y, from 15.6% y/y in October. This increase was driven by a substantial pick-up in the sales of heavy, and extra heavy commercial vehicles and buses which increased by 53.6% y/y (from 23.5% y/y in October), while medium commercial sales were up 47.9% y/y in November (from 0.6% y/y in October).
- This rise in commercial vehicle sales is encouraging, given that sales had lagged passenger car sales due to slowing investment spending as well as weak corporate credit demand.
- Total vehicle exports increased by 24.2% y/y (or 7.4% m/m) in November, while exports of passenger cars moderated to 13.1% y/y, after having risen by 41.4% y/y in October. The uncertainty in global growth prospects poses the main downside risk to vehicle export growth in the months ahead.
- Vehicle sales YTD (including AMH and AAD) are up 24.3% — above the comparable period for 2009.
[Info from Standard Bank Data Release]
The charges of “defeating or obstructing the course of justice” has been discussed in several forums lately – mostly with reference to a Twitter user called @PigSpotter and tweets relating to speed enforcement and road blocks. I do not wish to discuss the @Pigspotter scenario in detail – but rather focus on one specific aspect – the flashing of lights to approaching motorists once having passed a traffic officer.
Short-term insurer Mutual & Federal says it will include the new CO2 Emissions Tax (carbon tax) in the settlement of total loss claims on new motor vehicles, provided you have insured your vehicle for the appropriate value.
Question: 
“For many drivers, traffic congestion has become inevitable”, says Joost Jetten, Vice President, Sales Sub Sahara Africa. “We think it’s time to challenge conventional thinking with a working solution to reduce traffic congestion right now on a very large scale.”
A hundred and twenty one people were arrested on Saturday night for drunk driving in Johannesburg, metro police said on Sunday.
The Arrive Alive website has recently received information about emergency assistance on the N4 that might well have resulted in paralysis for an accident victim. We often find that witnesses try to render assistance with the best of intentions -but their over eagerness present additional safety concerns. Sometimes, even though difficult to refrain from jumping to the assistance of the accident victim, it is best just to regulate traffic and avoid further accidents.
We often insure our vehicles against the damage from motor accidents – but neglect to insure and protect our family members in the event of death and disability from the same vehicle accidents. It is most important not to focus on car insurance in isolation – but rather as part of a more comprehensive financial and needs analysis!