Europe Premium Brands : 2024 (Jan-July)

Which premium brands are lifting sales and which ones are cutting back? Let's find out although there aren't any real surprises. The +/- compares seven months of 2024 with seven months of 2023.

BMW leads the way with nearly 6% of total sales (which include all passenger cars). Sales are up 13% with the X1 the leading model.

Mercedes-Benz also increased but by a marginal 2%. It holds over 5% of the total car market, the GLC is most popular model. 

Audi is pulling back as can be seen but the 7% drop in volume. The A3 is easily the top model with nearly one in five of the brand's sales.

Volvo is well back from the top three but is moving up strongly. The XC40 is the best selling model. 

Tesla rounds out the top five but sales have dropped 12%. The Y contributed 62% of the brand's registrations. 

BMW's MINI is releasing new generation Hatch and Countryman models which for now has hit sales during the transition. They are the two main models.

Land Rover is up 12% with the Range Rover Sport the top selling model. Porsche gained 6% with the Cayenne the most popular. For Lexus, the NX currently leads but the big increase is due to the new LBX which is closing the gap between them. 

For Alfa Romeo, sales have fallen with the Tonale capturing 63% of the brand's sales. Jaguar is up but probably not by the end of the year as it reduces its range of models. The F-Pace accounted for 45% of sales YTD. Polestar and Genesis both dropped by 29%, tha last four making few sales so far this year. 

South Africa PU Model Sales : 2022-24 (Jan-July)

Pickups or Bakkies as they are called in the RSA sell well here. The data below is for complete years except 2024 which is seven months. The Toyota Hilux has been the dominant model for many years but the Ford Ranger is closing the gap. The Isuzu D-Max is having a strong year so far. 

After that comes the Nissan NP200 (pic left), for which production ceased at the end of March this year after 16 years of sales. For now, there seems to be sufficient stock to have kept sales at usual levels up to now. There are no similar half tonne bakkies available .

Mahindra is doing well with its workmanlike Pik Up model (pic right). Further down the list there are some Chinese models including the Peugeot LandTrek.The JAC T-Series has already passed its entire 2023 sales. 

Mitsubishi is a small player with its Triton but it is persisting with it. As for the BT-50 has ended its 18 year run in the Republic with no sales since March. 

Data source:Naamsa. Pictures: Manufacturers.

Australia PU Model Sales : 2022-24 (Jan-July)

This sort of vehicle is very popular in Australia. An outdoors lifestyle in a country with space and a DIY culture all combine to make them a sought after mode of transport. There are a few interesting features here to note. Please note that the 2024 is for seven months, hence why it is lower.

While across the 'Tasman', the Ford Ranger has outsold the Toyota Hilux for a decade, it's only recently it is asserting itself in Australia. While I'm not ever going to own such a vehicle so am not an expert, all road tests in magazines point out the Ranger is much better. It's taken a while for the locals to cotton on.... 

Another interesting development is the growth of US sourced pickups. As they drive on the wrong side of the road in the US, the steering wheel and dashboard need to be changed which which comes at a substantial cost. Yet they have established a solid following. 

The numbers aren't huge but the fact that the high price and sheer size attracts so many surprises me. When I say the sales aren't huge, that is against a backdrop of impressive pickup sales generally. The numbers are deceptively large. 

The work involved in producing this many conversions has created a vibrant cottage industry. RAM started tentatively in 2016 with a few hundred per annum but it took off in 2019. The Chevrolet Silverado came in 2021 and benefitting from the foundation laid by RAM hit the ground running.

Ford arrived with F-150 in 2023 and Toyota has done a tentative run of 200 vehicles with the Tundra and will ramp things up from here. Ford has been affected with compliance issues and that has undoubtedly affected sales so the transtioning of the steering wheel is not a simple procedure when done after manufacturing. 

Mazda does quite well here with the BT-50, previously made by Ford and recently by Isuzu. It's not a model that Mazda has success within many markets. It's just been discontinued in New Zealand despite reasonable sales.  

Mercedes tried to crack the lucrative pickup market with a donor vehicle from Nissan but only averaged 2,000 sales over three years in Australia and flopped everywhere else as well. Chinese brands are trying to get some of the action with some success. Hyundai and Kia are upbeat about their new pickup models which are about the enter the fray. 

Pickup buyers are a loyal bunch and conquest sales are hardwon. They aren't practical for many people nor in many countries but in several places they are the best selling vehicles. This is obviously one of them.

Data source: Vfacts. Pictures: Manufacturers.

USA PU Truck Sales : 2020-24 (Jan-May)

I've updated an earlier article with 17 months of additional data! It covers five months of 2024. I also added the Hyundai Santa Cruz which some would say was a leisure activity vehicle but others a truck with a very small rear tray. I'm torn but included it. 

The US truck industry is a protected one so they are either made locally or they are not here. They also need to be big as the market for more compact pickup trucks is fairly modest. The market is dominated by US brands with their collective share currently sitting at 87%. The Japanese dominate pickup markets elsewhere but they have struggled here.

The Ford F-Series is the most popular model but the gap to second has been narrowing. Chevrolet, Ram and GMC follow some way ahead of Toyota at fifth. Then more compact trucks start to make their appearance. Rivian is the new kid in town with plenty to do, especially as electric vehicle sales are faltering in the US.

I do feel such vehicles are far larger than needed yet buyers seem to love them like that. If you want oodles of cabin space, can afford the costs involved, need the towing ability, live in a big country, and enjoy comfortable cruising then it would be on the top of your shopping list. The picture above is the Ford F-150 interior.