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Not for the first time, the Polo Vivo held onto its best-selling car in South Africa crown last month, despite a 10.5% decrease in passenger car sales being reported. A total of 29,993 new cars were sold in the country, a 26% increase on September 2009. Volkswagen South Africa’s entry-level Polo Vivo sold 1939 units, while both it and the fifth-generation New Polo produced at the company’s Uitenhage factory faced build delays, attributed to strikes by motor industry component supplier workers.

‘Despite significant stock shortages as a result of recent industry wide strikes, the Polo Vivo range continued to dominate the entry segment with sales of 1,939 units,’ said Mike Glendinning, Volkswagen Group South Africa Sales and Marketing Director. ‘Supply of both the new Polo and Polo Vivo ranges, manufactured in our Uitenhage plant, was adversely impacted by the prolonged industry strikes. While down on what was an exceptionally buoyant month of new passenger car sales in August, the September new passenger car market performed well, supported by seasonally strong demand from rental car companies.’

The Polo Vivo, which was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market. Available as both a hatchback and saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 104bhp 1.6-litre units, two trim levels are available: base and Trendline. Costing from R104,065 for the most basic 1.4 model, the Polo Vivo is based on the facelifted version of the Series 4 Polo, built from 2005 to 2009. Changes include front and rear bumpers, as well as a revised front grille and other minor bodywork revisions.

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The entry-level Volkswagen in South Africa, the Polo Vivo, retained its crown as the best-selling passenger car brand in August 2010, with 2958 units finding homes. In addition, 1236 fifth-generation New Polos were sold. ‘Despite the eight-day motor industry strike last month, Volkswagen of South Africa continued to dominate the passenger car market with 19.4% share and total sales of 6527 units. We are still very encouraged by the reaction from the market to our new uniquely South African entry-level Polo Vivo,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen of South Africa.

A total of 33,541 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa during August 2010. Total new passenger car sales in August, including sales not reported in detail to trade body NAAMSA, increased by 14.8% when compared to July 2010, and by 49.6% when compared to August 2009, bringing the year-to-date August market in 2010 to a level 31.4% above the same period for 2009. Significantly, the Volkswagen Group’s passenger car sales year-to-date, are 37.6% ahead of the same period in 2009 – stronger than the market’s 31.4%.

‘New passenger car sales performed strongly in August recording the largest monthly market since January 2008 with the selling rate of new cars per day reaching levels last experienced in October 2007. While August is traditionally a relatively good month for new passenger car sales, the exceptional buoyancy of the market in August 2010 can in all probability be ascribed to a combination of seasonally strong demand from rental car companies and a buy ahead of the introduction of the CO2 vehicle emissions tax on 1 September 2010. It is estimated that the introduction of the CO2 vehicle emissions tax will result in an increase of new vehicle pricing of 2.5% on average,’ added Glendinning.

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The best-selling car brand in South Africa now has another reason to stay at the top of the charts. The Polo Vivo now comes with air-conditioning as standard, with the exception of the 1.4-litre 74bhp three-door base model hatchback. ‘The new Polo Vivo is manufactured in South Africa exclusively for South African motorists. In fact, local content levels in the new Polo Vivo now exceed 70% – illustrating the true South African colours of the Polo Vivo. The inclusion of air conditioning as standard throughout the range should make the Polo Vivo proposition to South African motorists even more enticing,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. Prices of the air-conditioning equipped Polo Vivo hatchback and sedan ranges from 1 September 2010 (including VAT and CO2 emissions tax) are detailed below.

Polo Vivo hatchback
1.4 3dr 74bhp, R104 065
1.4 5dr 74bhp, R116 065
1.4 5dr Trendline 84bhp, R127 465
1.6 5dr 104bhp, R142 320
1.6 5dr Trendline 104bhp, R150 320

Polo Vivo sedan
1.4 4dr 74bhp, R121 965
1.4 4dr Trendline 84bhp, R133 365
1.6 4dr 104bhp, R148 220
1.6 4dr Trendline 104bhp, R156 220

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The fifth-generation Polo and new Polo Vivo are among the jewels in Volkswagen South Africa’s 2010 range of cars, so it’s only right that they are the stars in the latest issue of the company’s customer publication, Volkswagen magazine. From the New Polo’s World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year awards to the technologically innovative Polo Skylab launch event, there’s plenty of coverage of the latest model, and even a behind the scenes story from the ‘Expect Big Things’ snow in Cape Town TV commercial (we covered it first, though, of course). There is a report on the Polo Vivo’s entertainment extravaganza launch party at the Sun City Superbowl – where international music acts performed with South Africa’s finest homegrown musicians – as well as the story behind the new top-selling, unique-to-South-Africa Volkswagen entry-level model. Read all this and more in the latest issue of Volkswagen magazine, available to download here.

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Spain’s football team weren’t the only winners celebrating in South Africa in July. Volkswagen South Africa was punching the air, too, as two members of its model range finished first and second in the country’s new car sales charts. Lifting the trophy for the most units sold, the Polo Vivo achieved record monthly sales of 3141 cars, keeping its lead as South Africa’s favourite passenger car brand. The fifth-generation New Polo stood just below the Vivo on the podium in second place, with sales of 1505 units.

‘Of significance was the July export volume of 7728 New Polos to global right hand drive markets. Our global markets are holding up well and we are on track to achieve the full year planned export volume of 75,000 Polos,’ commented Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. ‘Volkswagen Group South Africa was again the front runner in the passenger market with sales of 6949 cars and a resultant market share of 23.8%,’ he continued.

During July 2010, a total of 29,203 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa, up 9% when compared to June, and by 32.4% when compared to July 2009. This brings the overall year-to-date market in 2010 to a level 28.6% above the same period last year. ‘As is usually the case for the month of July, sales to rental car companies provided an elevated base of support for new car sales during the month, despite the above average demand from rental car companies during the first quarter of the year ahead of the Soccer World Cup,’ Glendinning stated.

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