Last year, the South African car industry sold a total 386,863 vehicles on the international market; 10.2% more than the 351,000 cars exported in 2018. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), the increase was driven by the improved production at the country's main assembly plants.

On the local market, however, sales dropped by 2.8% year-on-year in 2019 due to the current sluggish state of the South African economy with high unemployment.

As a reminder, the South African automotive industry accounts for 14% of the value of the country's exports and is the largest component of its industrial sector. It employs more than 100,000 workers.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou