Ladies, now is the time to buy a second hand car
We may be in a technical recession, as was announced last week, but when it comes to the automotive industry specifically, this presents its own unique opportunity, especially for second hand cars.
According to AutoTrader CEO George Mienie, ‘’A weaker Rand could present a unique opportunity to used car buyers right now. “We’ve seen that used car prices only increase about six months after new cars. Accordingly, if new car prices rise by 10% within the next month or two, used car prices will only rise by the same percentage about six months later. This means that used car buyers can get good value in the used car market right now. This is especially the case in top-end cars (vehicles costing over R500 000),” he says.
The weaker Rand is also good news for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). “We have a large and vibrant vehicle manufacturing industry. Companies such as BMW, Ford, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen all build cars here. Vehicle exports are predicted to grow to 384 000 units next year (from an expected 340 000 this year) says Meinie.
Last month (August), vehicle exports rose by 7.7% over August 2018 – versus a 2.5% decline in domestic car sales.
Mienie explains that local component manufacturers that are exporting will also benefit from the weaker rand. “We have a strong component industry here in South Africa. Catalytic converters have typically been the number one export (catalytic converters to the value of R18.7 billion were exported last year) but engine parts, tyres and engines are exported too,” he reveals.
Finally, while Mienie understands the concern surrounding recent developments, he says that both motorist and the motor industry will survive the current crisis. “The simple fact of the matter is this: South Africans rely on cars, buses and taxis for mobility. We don’t have a widespread train or tram network. Maybe we will need to tighten our belts and purchase used cars (instead of new) or we will have to buy down. Maybe we will need to hang onto our vehicles for longer (which will have positive spinoffs for service stations). Maybe motorists will buy cheaper cars (that emanate from China). But one thing is clear: South Africans will always need wheels,” he concludes.