KIA Captures Top Spot For Auto Sales In Mauritius

This growth is mainly due to major sales of new vehicles which experienced a strong growth of 28.6 %. 8,227 new vehicles have been sold from January to May 2012, against 6,397 vehicles sold during the same period in 2011.

The sale of ‘reconditioned’ vehicles has also experienced an increase, but by a smaller proportion. Thus, for the period January-May 2012, NTA has registered 2,163 ‘reconditioned’ vehicles against 1,977 for the same period in 2011, an increase of 9.4 %. For the first 5 months of the year, the market of brand new cars attained 79.2 %, continuously gaining market shares. In 2010, brand new cars represented 56%, while in 2011 it instantly reached 78.5 %.

Gilles Lalanne, president of Mauritius Vehicles Dealers’ Association (MVDA), explained that Korean brands are firmly established in the Mauritian automobile market. According to Mauritius Vehicles Dealers’ Association (MVDA), KIA tops automobile sales, followed by Toyota and Nissan.

For the first 5 months of the year, each of these three car manufacturers own slightly over 1% of the market. Hyundai and Chevrolets are placed at the 4th and 5th respectively with 333 and 192 vehicles sold, owning 8.7% and 5% of the market respectively.

Gilles Lalanne explains that Kia’s performance is remarkable, given that its sales does not only concern cars, contrary to Japanese brands which offer pick-up in their respective ranges. The sale of French vehicle is also on the rise.