Press Release on behalf of SAVRALA
NEW SAVRALA OFFICE BEARERS APPOINTED AS RENTAL AND LEASING SECTOR CLIMBS STEADILY TO PRE-COVID LEVELS
JOHANNESBURG, 17 OCTOBER 2022 – South Africa’s vehicle rental and leasing sector has its eyes firmly set on a year of purposeful growth, with the sector already reporting good gains on 2021 as tourism flows return post-Covid.
Driving this focus forward are the new office bearers of the South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA) who are taking the wheel as vehicle rental and leasing companies leverage the “right sizing and right pricing” that took place during the pandemic against the backdrop of increased tourism demand.
From a rental perspective, in September 2022 vs September 2021, the overall fleet is up 41$ at 53,000 vehicles compared with 37,500 a year ago.
Although tourist arrivals in September 2022 at South Africa’s main airport – OR Tambo International – are still 32% lower than the same month in 2019, there have been positive gains; most notably in terms of revenue which is reported to be 52% higher than in September 2021. Revenue has actually exceeded pre-Covid levels, according to SAVRALA, and rental days are also up 39.7% to 1.1m rental days.
For leasing sector members, while the volume of business has shrunk by a third (for funded vehicles) and by 8% for non-funded vehicles, the sector has been innovative. Leasing companies have been leveraging their strengths to diversify their offer, including selling their software and managing non-fleet vehicles on their systems.
Among the headwinds still facing the sector are the increase in price of vehicles and increase in fuel price, among others. Education, Tourism Safety, AARTO and NATIS issues, Road safety, the state of road infrastructure and enforcement of road traffic rules will further be a focus for the new National Executive Committee who take over the organisation’s strategy for the next year.
SAVRALA retains Sandile Ntseoane as the GM of the association.
The new appointees are:
President: Derick De Vries, Standard Bank
Vice President: Rainer Gottschick, Motus/Europcar
Rental Chair: Riaan Weideman, AvisBudget
Rental Vice Chair: Braam Greyling, Hertz
Leasing Chair: Brian Roos, 58 Fleet
Leasing Vice Chair: Linda Khambule, Standard Bank
SAVRALA hosts its 27th annual Manufacturer of the Year Awards (MOTY) on 20 October acknowledging the ability of vehicle manufacturers to provide their rental and leasing customers with superior quality service and support.
Ends
About SAVRALA
SAVRALA is the representative voice of Southern Africa’s vehicle rental, leasing and fleet management sector. Its members have a combined national footprint with over 600 branches countrywide. Its Associate members comprise most motor manufacturers and importers and allied industry sales and service companies. SAVRALA members provide short-term self-drive rental, medium and long-term rentals and/or leasing and fleet management services to corporate users and consumers. The sector employs an estimated 12,000 people and, as a direct multiplier effect, several thousand more jobs are sustained across the South African automotive industry.
For more information about SAVRALA, please visit http://www.savrala.co.za/ or contact Claire Lathe at claire@bigambition.co.za.
