South African Vehicle Sales for August 2012

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The South African vehicle industry continued to show signs of growth in the month of August 2012. Naamsa reported that overall vehicle sales increased by 9.4% when compared with the same period last year. Sales totalled 56 253 units compared to the 51 409 units sold in 2011.

The first eight months of 2012 reflected an 11.3% increase in sales compared to the same period last year. In August, dealership sales accounted for 81% of sales while the rental industry accounted for 11.5% of sales. Corporate fleets accounted for 3.9% of sales and government claimed 3.5%.

Low interest rates and improving demand for credit by households and businesses continued to support domestic sales. Naamsa however predicts a less promising outcome for 2013. “Looking ahead to 2013, increasing inflationary pressures on the back of expected higher fuel and food prices and the impact of rand weakness on new vehicle pricing were likely to result in a more difficult trading environment and more subdued growth in vehicle sales,” Naamsa said.

The top three selling vehicles for the month of August 2012 include the VW Polo Vivo in first place with 3 714 sales. The Toyota Hilux claims second place with 2 942 units sold while the VW Polo sits pretty in third place with 2 355 units in the bag. The top selling vehicle list excludes sales by Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Kia.

News Source: IOL Motoring

VW Polo Owner Drives a Million Kilometres

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Gerrie Esterhuizen (67) is the proud owner of a 2004 VW Polo and with his wife Magriet by his side, they travelled one million kilometres across South Africa while working. They clocked up the km’s from their hometown in Soutpan near Bloemfontein to the surrounding Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Lesotho.

Esterhuizen said “We travel as much as 800km a day from our home and back, often spending more than 10 hours on the road and seeing clients, mainly in small towns in our sales territory.” The couple reckons they used about 66 666 litres of fuel to reach one million kilometres with an average of 6.6-litres/100km over a period of eight years.

Volkswagen invited the couple to drive to the VW plant in Uitenhage where the car was made, where it received a new paintjob, dent removal, a brush-up package and was fitted with a new instrument cluster. It seems the VW Polo is set to go for another million kilometres.

How far have you driven in your car? 

News Source: IOL Motoring

Fourth Generation Renault Clio

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Renault is planning to unveil its fourth generation Clio at the Paris Motor Show in September this year and it seems they might be going for something a little bit different this time round.

The Clio, competition to the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo, is expected to take on more refined styling than its predecessors. Although there is not much to go by at this stage, except for this teaser image, the Renault Clio could quite possibly take styling cues from the Zoe electric car.

The interior of the new Renault Clio is also expected to undergo some major changes to accompany its new look. Engine specifications are unknown at this stage, but reports are pointing to a new range of downsized turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. It’s simply a matter of time before the mist draws back and clarity prevails. For now, we just have to wait.  

VW Polo Vivo tops all

Tweet Volkswagen Group South Africa is leading the charge in the passenger car market having sold a total of 8 239 units and hold a leading market share of 21.1% in March 2012. The VW Polo Vivo spearheaded the attack with 2 846 units sold in March with the VW Polo in a close second place with 2 355 units sold.

So what makes the VW Polo Vivo so special? Many people in South Africa are experiencing a financial pinch amidst a global financial crisis and therefore many are unable to fork out their hard earned pennies for expensive cars models. This scenario suits the VW Polo Vivo perfectly as it's an entry level Volkswagen that is well priced to serve the needs of the average cash-strapped South African.


More than this, consumers are spoilt for choice with nine models in the hatch range. These models include the 1.4 2-door, 1.4, 1.4 Zest, 1.4 BLUELINE, 1.4 Trendline, 1.4 Trendline Tiptronic, 1.6, 1.6 Trendline and the 1.6 GT 2-door. Five models complete the Polo Vivo Sedan range with the 1.4, 1.4 Trendline, 1.4 Trendline Tiptronic, 1.6, and the 1.6 Trendline.


Another striking feature that permeates throughout the Polo Vivo range is efficiency. All models exhibit a fuel consumption figure in the region of 6.2 litres/100km with the 1.4 Blueline achieving 5.4 litres/100 km. All Polo Vivo models also feature low CO2 emissions averaging at about 150g/km.


Features aside, here you have a car that rates highly on three critical factors namely price, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The VW Polo Vivo is an affordable car with great fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions. What more do you want in a car?


Do you like the VW Polo Vivo?