It said this was largely in line with industry expectations.
The new vehicle sales figures‚ released by the Department of Trade and Industry on Monday (1 July)‚ showed that export sales registered a surprising 10.6% decline in volume terms.
Overall‚ out of the total reported industry sales of 53‚562 vehicles‚ 45‚467 units or 84.9% represented dealer sales‚ 8.0% represented sales to the vehicle rental Industry‚ 4.5 % to Industry corporate fleets and 2.6% to government.
During June‚ a total of 37‚057 new cars were sold which represented an improvement of 1‚144 units or a gain of 3.2% compared with the 35‚913 new cars sold in June last year.
Sales of new light commercial vehicles‚ bakkies and mini buses at 13‚729 units reflected an increase of 305 units or 2.3% compared with the 13‚424 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.
Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy trucks at 1‚040 units and 1‚736 units‚ respectively‚ recorded an increase of 177 units or 20.5% in the case of medium commercial vehicles and an increase of 64 units or 3.8% in the case of heavy trucks and buses‚ compared with the corresponding month last year.
Industry new vehicle exports at 24‚203 vehicles showed an unexpected decline of 2‚864 units or 10.6% compared with the 27‚067 vehicles exported in June last year.
NAAMSA said the industry remained on target for new vehicle export growth of around 15%‚ in volume terms‚ for 2013.
"As was indicated previously‚ the outlook for the automotive sector for the balance of the year looks less promising than at the beginning of 2013. Domestically‚ expectations of subdued gross domestic product growth and above-inflation new vehicle price increases - as a result of the sharply weaker exchange rate and the April 2013 increase in CO2 vehicle emission taxes on new cars and certain categories of new light commercials - will contribute to a more difficult trading environment. However‚ the lower interest rate environment should continue to lend some support to the domestic market.
"Other positive factors include replacement demand‚ the highly competitive trading environment‚ ongoing attractive incentives and high technology new model introductions. Over the medium term‚ pre-emptive buying by consumers to avoid price increases of new motor vehicles‚ could lend some support to sales. Moreover‚ over the next four months replacement demand by car rental companies should also contribute positively‚" NAAMSA said.
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