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SA Vehicle Sales Figures End 2021 On A Relatively High Note

vuyi on December 2, 2021

Press Release: Wesbank

South Africa’s new vehicle market has been faced with numerous challenges over the course of this year but sale seem to be on the rise.

South Africa’s new vehicle market has faced many challenges over the course of 2021.  However, the first interest rate hike in three years, consecutive fuel price hikes, a new variation on the pandemic theme and the return of load shedding didn’t deter sales too much.

The market’s resilience continued, recording 41,588 sales during November according to naamsa | the Automotive Business Council. This represents a 6.6% growth over the same period last year and a marginal improvement (553 units) over October.

“While it remains difficult to compare data over periods given the uncertainty of the pandemic for the past two years, a more certain sign of market improvement can be seen in a broader view of sales performance,” says Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank. “During 2020, just two months of the year exceeded 40,000 units and those were the first two months, prior to lockdown regulations being put in place; five months of 2021 have recorded sales of more than 40,000 units, including the past four months consecutively. Market conditions are certainly improving.”

Year-to-date, the market has recorded 428,131 sales, up 24.8% on 2020’s 342,956.

The Passenger Car market increased 9.4% to 27,828 units. Dealer sales in the segment grew similarly by 9%, injecting much-needed confidence into the retail network’s sustainability as well as an indication of consumer confidence.

The Light Commercial Vehicle segment declined marginally (-0.8%) to 11,156 units with dealer channel sales slightly higher (0.2%) than November last year. 

The rental market once again provided a robust 4,771 sales across both segments, the current travel bans are likely to have an impact on this sector going into the new year.

“While the market is experiencing certain signs of continued recovery, the realities of rising interest rates and fuel prices is expected to impact affordability as household budgets still play catch-up from the ravages of the pandemic,” says Gaoaketse. “These factors are economically inevitable, but will certainly apply pressure to consumers.

5 Signs Your Car’s Air conditioner Needs some TLC

vuyi on December 2, 2021

By H&H Admin

Summer is upon us and with it comes hot sunny days. The last thing you need is a broken air conditioner. 

Most components in your car give you a warning before they stop working, and you could save yourself a lot of money and frustration if you take action immediately you notice something is about to malfunction.  

Here are five signs your air-con unit needs a bit of TLC.

1. The Cooling Level Has Decreased

You are probably quite familiar with how well your car’s air-con works under normal circumstances so you will most likely notice if the cold temperature setting no longer cools the air as it should.  It may be gradual but you will eventually begin to notice a decrease in cool air, as the flow of air becomes faint or non-existent.

This could be caused by:

  • Low refrigerant
  • Obstructed or failed condensor
2. Balmy or No Air

Even though your temperature setting may be cold when your car’s air con is on its last legs, the air coming through it may be warm or balmy.  

This could be caused by:

  • An accumulation of mould or mildew on the evaporator
  • A damaged or loose hose
  • A damaged ventilation fan
  • A blown fuse
3. You Hear Weird Sounds

The only noise you should hear from your car’s air con is the flow of air coming through the vents.  Odd air con noises include banging, ticking, or humming.  However, there are two common types of noises you may hear from an unhealthy air-con unit. To understand these sounds, we must paint a picture of how the unit works.

The air conditioner relies on the compressor, whose job is to help build up pressure within the air-con system as well as cause proper flow of refrigerant.  The compressor uses a pulley bearing, which wears out over time. As it wears out, the air con begins to grind or squeak. 

The compressor also uses a clutch which eventually wears out too.  As the clutch wears out, it makes a rattling sound.  

In either case, other causes of the strange noises could be:

  • An obstruction such as leaves in the system
  • Failed or malfunctioning blower motor
4. You Smell Strange Odours

There shouldn’t be any odours when you turn on your air-con.  Strange smells coming from the air vents are another indication of a failing air conditioning system.  The odours are generally caused by the presence of bacteria such as mould, mildew, fungus and other micro-organisms under the dashboard, hoses, or a dirty cabin filter.

Other causes of strange smells include:

  • The frequency of use of the air conditioner
  • Age of the vehicle
  • Moisture in the air conditioning system due to excess condensation
5. Damp Floor Or Puddles Of Water Inside The Car

In normal circumstances, the air conditioning system drains water away from the car, but sometimes the drain becomes blocked, causing water to back up and pool inside the car instead. When this happens, water can build up under the car’s floor mats and dashboard, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.  

Other causes of pools of water include:

  • A clogged drain line
  • Excess condensation

The air conditioning system in your car doesn’t work just to keep the interior of the car cool.  It also acts as a dehumidifier, ensuring that you and your passengers inhale the best quality air possible.

It is important that you take care of your car’s air conditioner so that it can last as long as possible, giving you many happy kilometres of comfortable travel.