• Volkswagen Group South Africa sold 63 482 vehicles in 2020.
• The company's market share of 21.6% in the passenger segment is the highest in the brand's history.
• Audi SA sold 5819 units in 2020, and only increased its market share by 0.3% in comparison to 2019.
• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles record full-year market share of 3.7%.
Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA), which includes VW passenger cars and commercial vehicles brands as well as Audi, ended 2020 as the passenger car market leader in South Africa.
"2020 was a challenging year not just for our brands but for the motoring industry as a whole and to come out of 2020 still holding onto our leadership of the passenger car market, is an incredible feat," said Mike Glendinning, VWSA Sales and Marketing Director.
Total market down by close to 30%
According to Naamsa, 380 449 vehicles were sold in South Africa last year, a 29.1% decline when compared to 2019. "VWSA was severely affected by the pandemic which ground vehicle sales to a halt in April; our 2020 sales are down by 28.9% year-on-year when compared to 2019," said Glendinning.
"Despite the difficulties we faced in 2020, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand posted a record market share last year; the 21.6% market share achieved by the brand in 2020 is 1.2% higher than the one in 2019 and is the highest market share in the history of the brand as well as the highest market share of all Volkswagen markets across the world," added Glendinning.
Almost 20 000 Polo Vivos sold in 2020
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand recorded total sales of 53 319 units last year. With 19 750 units sold in 2020, the locally-manufactured Polo Vivo (pictured above) is not only Volkswagen’s top-selling vehicle, but it is also earned the title as South Africa's best-selling passenger car.
The compact SUV, the T-Cross, is now Volkswagen's best-selling imported vehicle with 5693 units sold in the past 12 months.
Audi sold 5819 units in 2020
Audi had a particular challenging year in the premium marker and only increased its market share by 0.3% when compared to 2019 and recorded full-year sales of 5819 units last year.
The Audi Q2 (pictured below) was the best-selling model range for the premium brand last year posting sales of 1131 units.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, which is responsible for vehicle derivatives like the Amarok, Caddy, Kombi, Caravelle, Panel Van and the Crafter, posted total sales of 4 344 and ended the year with a 3.7% market share in 2020. The Caddy was the brand's best-selling derivative with 1 730 units sold in 2020.
“In what was been an unprecedented year, VWSA’s performance in 2020 is thanks to our dedicated Dealer Network who pushed for every sale. I’d also like to thank our loyal Audi and Volkswagen customers who continue to ensure that VWSA is South Africa’s most loved passenger brand year after year," concluded Glendinning.
Golf GTI, R and Tiguan facelift on the way in 2021
It's a big year for VWSA, not only do they celebrate 70 years in the country but it will introduce its highly-anticipated Golf 8 GTI to the market. A Tiguan facelift as well as the Golf 8 R will also touch down on local soil.
On the commercial vehicle side, the new model introductions include the T6.1 Kombi, Crafter Auto, as well as the fifth generation Caddy model range.
Several Audi RS models on the way
Audi will want to put 2020 behind them and focus on this year. The luxury brand will introduce a totally refreshed and extensive R and RS performance range including the RS4, RS5, RS6, RS7, RSQ8, RSQ3, R8 are all due in 2021.
Aside from the performance models, the all-new A3 model range arrives this year and face lifted version of the Q5 and Q2 model ranges will also be shipped over.
