SALES of new vehicles increased last month, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa has said.

SALES of new vehicles increased last month, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa has said.

Compared with April 2009 vehicle sales in April 2010 rose by 26,6percent.

But Naamsa said the improvement should be viewed in relation to "the low sales registered this time last year due to the impact of the global financial and economic crisis at the time".

Of the total Naamsa-reported industry sales of 30462 vehicles, 85,7percent or 26037 units represented dealer-retail sales, 7percent sales to the car rental industry, 4,2percent industry corporate fleet sales and 3,1percent sales to the government.

Aggregate industry new car sales in April 2010 "exceeded expectations" and at 23606 reflected an improvement of 6843 units or 40,8percent on the 16763 new cars sold in April 2009, Naamsa said.

Sales of 10572 units of industry new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses in April 2010 reflected an improvement of 2558 units or 31,9percent on the 8014 units in April 2009, Naamsa said.

Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the industry reflected a mixed performance.

Naamsa said the 17592 South African-produced vehicles exported in April 2010 was a gain of 5989 units or 51,6percent on the 11603 vehicles exported in April last year. - Sapa