This Week In The News

NEWS IN SHORT

South African stocks are having their strongest third quarter for 11 years, and investors see
the gains extending.
Consumer confidence recovered further in the third quarter to its best since 2019, helped by
improved willingness to spend and hopes of an interest rate cut in September, survey data
released on Tuesday showed.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has announced a nationwide socioeconomic
protest scheduled for October 7, 2024.
The government has finally revealed the cost of the new driver’s license card printers that it
plans to obtain, and they aren’t cheap.
The Department of Transport (DoT) recently announced that it wants to procure three new
machines at a cost of R334 million per unit, bringing the total cost up to a staggering R1
billion.

Used electric-car sales show that South Africans are willing to try out the new technology,
provided they can get it at a great price.
South African motorists may be in for a nasty surprise this October as Treasury’s annual
medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) could bring with it increases to national fuel
taxes.

September top 12 best-selling new cars

Toyota Hilux - 2 942
Volkswagen Polo Vivo - 2 407
Ford Ranger - 2 382
Toyota Corolla Cross - 2 045
Isuzu D-Max - 1 592
Hyundai Grand i10 - 1 126
Toyota Fortuner - 1 086
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro - 990
Volkswagen Polo - 948
Nissan Magnite - 869
Suzuki Fronx - 850
Toyota Vitz - 814

GWM Haval Jolion with 812 unit are knocking at the door.

The Hyundai Exter has been one of biggest surprises of the month of sales in its first month of 453
units. The Hyundai Exter was rolled out locally earlier this month with the Korean carmaker’s latest
offering coming in at a very attractive starting price of R269 900.

TOP 5 Manufacturer Sales: September 2024

Toyota - 10,890
Volkswagen Group SA - 5,885
Suzuki Auto - 5,023
Hyundai - 2,841
Ford Motor Co - 2,823

SEPTEMBER 2024 SALES DATA USED CARS

The 5 Best Used Car Sellers

Volkswagen
Toyota
Ford
Suzuki
BMW

Top 10 Derivatives Used Car Sales

1.	VOLKSWAGEN	POLO VIVO 1.4 TRENDLINE (5DR)
2.	SUZUKI	ERTIGA 1.5 GA
3.	NISSAN	NP200 1.6 A/C SAFETY PACK P/U S/C
4.	FORD	RANGER 2.2TDCI XL P/U D/C
5.	VOLKSWAGEN	POLO VIVO 1.4 COMFORTLINE (5DR)
6.	CHERY	TIGGO 4 PRO 1.5 LIT
7.	CHERY	TIGGO 4 PRO 1.5 LIT CVT
8.	CHERY	TIGGO 7 PRO 1.5T EXECUTIVE CVT
9.	VOLKSWAGEN	POLO 1.0 TSI COMFORTLINE
10.	VOLKSWAGEN	POLO 1.0 TSI COMFORTLINE DSG

Top 3 Used Commercial / Bakkie Sales

1.	NISSAN	NP200 1.6 A/C SAFETY PACK P/U S/C
2.	FORD	RANGER 2.2TDCI XL P/U D/C
3.	FORD	RANGER 2.2TDCI XL A/T P/U D/C

AVERAGE AGE OF USED VEHICLES: 4y-4m

The Benefits of a complaint register.

A complaint register in the motor industry enhances compliance by systematically documenting customer grievances, ensuring that businesses adhere to legal requirements and industry standards.
This transparency helps mitigate risks and fosters accountability.
Additionally, it significantly boosts customer satisfaction by providing a structured process for addressing concerns, demonstrating that the business values feedback and is committed to resolving issues.
A dedicated email address for complaints further enhances this process, allowing customers to easily submit their concerns and ensuring that all communications are centralized.
Requiring complaints to be submitted in writing also promotes clarity, enabling suppliers to better understand the issues at hand and respond more effectively.
By delving into customer experiences, companies can ultimately improve their services and build trust with clients.
A complaint register also helps suppliers maintain an organized process with proper daily follow-up.
By tracking each complaint from initiation to resolution, suppliers can ensure timely responses and efficient communication
Best of all, this register provides an overview of areas where you can improve your vehicle preparation before putting them on the sales floor.

A Closer Look at Motor Industry Complaints: The Positive Reality Behind the Numbers

In recent months, our industry has faced a barrage of criticism, often painted with a broad brush by consumer journalists. High winds of discontent have swept through the media, focusing on isolated incidents and generalizations that do not accurately represent the true state of the motor industry.

However, when we dive into the actual figures, a very different picture emerges.

According to data from the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (MIOSA), from March 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, there were 9,104 complaints related to motor vehicles. At first glance, this number may seem significant. Yet, when contextualized against the total sales figures for the same period + 960 000, it reveals a strikingly low complaint rate of just 0.9%.

Breaking it down further, we find that approximately 60% of these complaints were resolved in favor of the dealer. This adjustment leads us to a more accurate count of 3,641 legitimate complaints for the year, reducing the complaint rate to an impressive 0.4%.

If we consider the cases that reached the National Consumer Commission, the figures become even more sterling.

These figures challenge the narrative propagated by some consumer journalists. Rather than reflecting widespread dissatisfaction, the data indicates that the vast majority of transactions in the motor industry are completed without issue. It highlights the industry's commitment to resolving complaints effectively and maintaining customer satisfaction.

As we navigate through this challenging landscape, it’s crucial to focus on these positive statistics. They serve as a reminder of the hard work and dedication within our industry to ensure that customers are treated fairly and that their concerns are addressed promptly.

In conclusion, while the media may continue to emphasize the negatives, we must recognize the real achievements and positive trends reflected in the MIOSA data. With a complaint rate of only 0.4%, it is clear that the motor industry is performing well, and the overwhelming majority of consumers are satisfied with their experiences. As we move forward, let’s continue to promote transparency, celebrate our successes, and work collaboratively to address any remaining issues.

1 March 2023 to 29 February 2024

Number of complaints received	9 104
Percentage closed in favour of consumer	40%
Percentage closed in favour of dealer/service provider	60%

See breakdown below:

Breakdown of complaints received

PROBLEM CATEGORY	% OF COMPLAINTS
BODY	6.75%
ELECTRICAL	2.78%
CONTRACT ISSUE	20.65%
ENGINE	26.68%
FUEL SYSTEM	0.76%
GEARBOX	6.29%
IGNITION SYSTEM	0.75%
INCORRECT FUEL	0.05%
INTERIOR	3.82%
LEGAL	19.32%
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE	2.97%
STEERING	0.78%
UNDER CARRIAGE	1.45%
VEHICLE SERVICE	2.54%
WHEELS	3.41%
WINDOWS	1.00%