In our review of 2016, we described it as a year to forget for many ... 2017 has not been much different. It has been tough for the car industry and even tougher for the consumer. In January the inland price of 95 unleaded petrol was R13.33 a litre. It will close the year at R14.76 and we expect further significant increases in 2018. Household budgets are tight and this has impacted heavily on sales of new passenger vehicles, down 6.8% for the year to the end of November. The pre-owned market continues to be a major benefactor of the decline. The budget market is doing well but at the expense of safety. So it was good to see Global NCAP and the Automobile Association teaming up this year to conduct the first ever official crash tests of five entry-level vehicles on sale in SA. Sadly the results showed that some car companies are putting profits before safety, a situation that would be unacceptable in many international markets but one which the South African government continues to ...

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