[imagesource: Toyota]

Recent research on trends in the automotive industry revealed an interesting shift in what South Africans are looking for when they’re in the market for a car.

The sale of new cars has been plummeting with consumers turning to the used car market for high-profile brands at lower prices.

Lockdown had a great deal to do with changes in the industry, including a move from buying cars on the showroom floor, to automotive digital trading, as more consumers searched for vehicles online.

Using data compiled from 276 million searches conducted between July and December last year, the 2020 AutoTrader Bi-Annual Car Industry Report reflects this, providing insight into which cars are in high demand.

The report noted that the top three most inquired about brands were Toyota (14,2%), Volkswagen (12,5%), and BMW (10,7%). In total, these brands amounted to 37% of consumer’s buying intent.

The top 10 models that potential buyers were interested in, contributed 28% of all inquiries. Leading the pack was the Toyota Hilux, which within the top 10, generated 5,2% of all inquiries.

The Ford Ranger was the top-selling used car in the 2020 Annual Report, generating 3,9% share of all inquiries.

Here are the top 10 models that potential buyers were after:

Image: 2020 AutoTrader Bi-Annual Car Industry Report

The bottom line is that those looking to sell their vehicles are in a good position to do so right now, which means more options for those in the market to buy a used car.

Unfortunately, going about that can be tricky, and if you don’t make the right moves, you could find yourself out of pocket or driving a dud, which is why buying from reputable outlets is so imperative.

In other words, it’s important to make sure you get a fair and honest deal.

Companies like getWorth not only offer consumers online convenience, but the peace of mind that you are getting the best deal.

They use live market data, not generic values, to determine the offer that they’ll send you, so you can trust that you are receiving fair value based on what the market has to offer.

To prove this, their sales team doesn’t earn any commission because they only have the clients’ best interest in mind.

Based on the latest AutoTrader stats, the South African used vehicle market is clearly moving towards a ‘buy right and sell smart’ way of thinking, with getWorth leading the charge, offering products such as getMore, getSeven, and the ‘30-day promise’.

Ultimately, both buyers and sellers know that they’re getting a fair, market-related price, with steps in place to protect both parties should any issues arise.

[source:autotrader]