Polo Vivo scores post-World Cup new car sales victory in South Africa
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.
