THE 2021 AutoTrader Mid-Year Car Industry Report covers the first six months of the year and contains all manner of facts and figures about SA’s ever-changing automotive landscape.
“It’s been a fascinating six months for the automotive industry as it looks to be recovering from the initial impact of the national lockdown.
“Perhaps most interesting is the fact our survey indicates South Africans are beginning to change their viewpoints on EVs,” said AutoTrader CEO George Mienie.
Here are six key findings from the 56-page report which can be viewed online:
1. Online vehicle searches hit a record high
A whopping 319 million car searches were recorded in the motoring marketplace in the first six months of 2021, which represents an all-time high and suggests robust interest in the used market and a strong recovery after a period of uncertainty.
2. BMW is once again the most searched for brand
Interestingly, BMW again proved the most searched for brand, accounting for nearly 13 percent of all brand searches in the reporting period.
Toyota’s venerable Hilux bakkie was easily the most searched for model overall, while the Volkswagen Golf GTI again proved the most searched for variant. SA’s love for VW’s hallowed hot hatch is as strong as ever.
3. The coupé has the highest average rand/km driven figure
When shopping for a used car, it’s handy first to find out whether the vehicle you are interested in is priced above or below average for that particular body style.
The same applies to how many kilometres are on the clock; is the number more or less than average?
This sort of data helps consumers to gauge whether or not a vehicle is priced fairly.
4. The Toyota Hilux is the most enquired into model overall
Which used models do online shoppers show concrete intent to purchase?
Well, according to the report, dealerships received just short of 100 000 enquiries on the Toyota Hilux in the first six months of 2021.
The Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Polo ranked as the second and third most enquired into models in the reporting period.
5. The BMW i3 is the most enquired into electric vehicle
What about electric vehicles (EVs)? Here, the BMW i3 generated the most leads for dealers, accounting for more than half of the total number of EVs listed on the platform and close to 70 percent of dealer enquiries for such vehicles. Porsche’s Taycan ranked second, while the Jaguar I-Pace took third place.
6. SA’s attitude to EVs is starting to change
A detailed survey on EVs was included in the report, with respondents intriguingly ranking safety as the most important consideration when purchasing a battery-powered car, ahead of factors such as battery efficiency, environmental friendliness and even price. This suggests SA’s attitude towards EVs is finally starting to shift.
