SA’s auto market shows signs of recovery as used vehicle demand rises.

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GUEST - Marcia Mayaba, Sales Vice President, Auto Information Services at TransUnion
The latest TransUnion South Africa Vehicle Pricing Index (VPI) for Q4 2024 reveals a cautiously optimistic outlook for the country’s automotive sector, with improving economic conditions encouraging consumer confidence while affordability challenges continue to shape purchasing decisions.
Key insights from the report indicate a continued shift towards used vehicles, with financing for pre-owned vehicles outpacing new car financing at a ratio of 1.56 to 1, up from 1.23 in Q4 2023.
Meanwhile, new vehicle prices increased by 1.7% due to supply chain constraints and production costs, while used vehicle prices declined by 2.8%, making them a more attractive option for cost-conscious buyers. Despite these challenges, new vehicle finance agreements grew by 12.7% year-over-year (YoY), with Gen X and Millennials accounting for 67% of new agreements*.
4 Mar 2025 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

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