The SA Vehicle Industry Thread

South African vehicle sales stumbled in August: These were the 50 best sellers

Having defied the odds so far this year, South African new vehicle sales faltered last month as economic realities took their toll.

According to Naamsa - The Automotive Business Council - new vehicle sales declined by 3,1% in August, versus the same month last year.

"The resilience of the South African retail motor industry in 2023 continues to astound us, but we knew there had to be a tipping point, and this is what happened in August," said Brandon Cohen, Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA).

Passenger cars saw the largest decline, at 6.7% year-on-year, while bakkies and other light commercial vehicles gained 2.7% versus August 2022, while medium and heavy trucks saw respective gains of 0.3% and 10.4%.

While the Toyota Hilux was the country’s top-selling bakkie last month, with 3,309 sales, the Ford Ranger also enjoyed a robust month with 2,367 units finding homes. The Isuzu D-Max (1,632), Nissan NP200 (1,064) and Mahindra Pik-Up (701) completed the bakkie top five.

TOP 50: AUGUST 2023

1. Toyota Hilux - 3,309
2. Volkswagen Polo Vivo - 2,452
3. Ford Ranger - 2,367
4. Toyota Corolla Cross - 2,130
5. Isuzu D-Max - 1,632
6. Toyota Hi-Ace - 1,534
7. Toyota Starlet - 1,372
8. Suzuki Swift - 1,349
9. Volkswagen Polo - 1,153
10. Nissan NP200 - 1,064
11. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro - 809
12. Hyundai Venue - 782
13. Nissan Magnite - 773
14. Hyundai Grand i10 - 767
15. Haval Jolion - 761
16. Renault Kiger - 718
17. Kia Sonet - 702
18. Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up - 701
19. Renault Kwid - 684
20. Toyota Fortuner - 651
21. GWM P-Series - 567
22. Toyota Urban Cruiser - 523
23. Suzuki S-Presso - 481
24. Nissan Navara - 481
25. Suzuki Ertiga - 468
26. Toyota Vitz - 467
27. Chery Tiggo 7 Pro - 460
28. Volkswagen T-Cross - 430
29. Toyota Corolla Quest - 413
30. Haval H6 - 408
31. Suzuki Baleno - 407
32. Toyota Rumion - 342
33. Suzuki Ciaz - 338
34. Toyota Land Cruiser PU - 305
35. Suzuki Fronx - 302
36. Volkswagen Amarok - 296
37. Ford Everest - 270
38. Volkswagen Tiguan - 266
39. Kia Picanto - 256
40. Suzuki Grand Vitara - 253
41. Hyundai H100 Bakkie - 250
42. Renault Triber - 239
43. Chery Tiggo 8 Pro - 229
44. Toyota Land Cruiser 300 - 222
45. Hyundai Staria - 220
46. Suzuki Dzire - 207
47. Volkswagen Polo Sedan - 183
48. Kia Seltos - 197
49. Honda WR-V - 162
50. Hyundai i20 - 158

 
Stellantis to build Peugeot Landtrek bakkie in South Africa

The R3.6bn factory in Coega will create about 2,000 jobs

Stellantis has announced it will build the Peugeot Landtrek bakkie for the local market and export at a new factory to be built in South Africa.

In a R3bn investment with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the department of trade, industry and competition, the multinational carmaker will build completely knocked down (CKD) units of the Landtrek at a facility in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Coega, near Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape.

The first units are due to exit the factory in early 2026, with volumes expected to reach up to 50,000 annually, including export, in line with the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP). The plant will have the capacity to expand to 90,000 units a year.

The Landtrek double cab has been available as a full import since its launch here in November 2021 and is a niche player in a market dominated by pickups like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.

Trade and industry Minister Ebrahim Patel, senior officials from the IDC and Samir Cherfan, Stellantis Middle East and Africa COO met at parliament in Cape Town to agree on investment in the South African motor industry.

www.timeslive.co.za

Stellantis to build Peugeot Landtrek bakkie in South Africa

Stellantis has announced it will build the Peugeot Landtrek bakkie for the local market and export at a new factory to be built in South Africa.
www.timeslive.co.za www.timeslive.co.za
 
Stellantis to build one-tonne bakkie in South Africa from 2026

Following the announcement earlier this year that it planned to open an assembly plant in South Africa, Stellantis has furnished more details on the project.

The carmaker has confirmed its intention to invest R3 billion to assemble a one-tonne bakkie in a new factory situated in the Coega Special Economic Zone near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

The carmaker will reportedly build the Peugeot Landtrek at the plant, and given that it aims to launch the bakkie in early 2026 after completing the facility in late 2025, it’s likely that this could be the next-generation model.

The vehicles will be assembled in completely knocked down (CKD) form and Stellantis is aiming to reach a volume of up to 50 000 units per year, including exports. This is in line with South Africa’s Automotive Production Development Program (ADAP).

The plant will be set up, in terms of space and painting, to accommodate up to 90 000 units a year if need be.

 
5 Cheapest New Cars in South Africa 2023

Here are the 5 cheapest new cars currently available in South Africa…

We all know that buying a new car can be an expensive exercise but this article highlights the 5 cheapest brand new cars currently available in South Africa. Yes, you may have to compromise somewhat in terms of quality and features in the low-end of the new car market but if these 5 cheapest cars don’t quite meet your needs then it’s worthwhile exploring the used car market right here on Cars.co.za.

Also, if you need car buying advice, feel free to engage with us on Facebook or Twitter and we will gladly assist you.

Let’s take a closer look at 5 of the most affordable brand-new cars money can buy in South Africa.

Pricing is accurate as of September 2023.

1. Suzuki S-Presso – From R169 900

2. Suzuki Celerio – From R183 900

3. Renault Kwid – From R188 999

4. Toyota Vitz – From R189 900

5. Suzuki Swift – From R199 900

www.cars.co.za

5 Cheapest New Cars in South Africa 2023

We all know that buying a new car can be an expensive exercise but this article highlights the 5 cheapest new cars currently available in SA.
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
SA’s best-selling double-cab bakkies YTD (August 2023)

It’s a question we’re often asked: which bakkie leads the double-cab sales race in South Africa? Well, we finally have the answer. Check out year-to-date sales for Mzansi’s most popular double cabs…

Month in and month out, we collate a list of South Africa’s most-popular bakkies, based on sales figures that incorporate all 3 body styles. But there’s a question that’s often left unanswered: which is the best-selling double-cab bakkie in the land? Yes, you asked and we listened.

Since Naamsa’s monthly sales figures unfortunately don’t include a breakdown of the available bakkie body styles (single-, extended- and double-cab shapes), we’ve turned to our studious friends over at Lightstone Auto for a little help to identify Mzansi’s best-selling double-cab bakkies over the opening 8 months of 2023.

According to Lightstone Auto, double-cab derivatives of all other bakkies available in this body style total 11 609 units, year to date.

SA’s best-selling double-cab bakkies YTD (August 2023)

1. Ford Ranger – 13 892 units

2. Toyota Hilux – 12 291 units

3. Isuzu D-Max – 6 125 units

www.cars.co.za

SA's best-selling double-cab bakkies YTD (August 2023)

It’s a question we’re often asked: which bakkie leads the double-cab sales race in South Africa? Well, we finally have the answer...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
These were the brands that sold the most electric cars in South Africa in H1 2023

Although electric vehicles (EVs) are getting off to a slow start in South Africa amid the power crisis and crippling taxes for this vehicle type, the market is still growing steadily, along with the increasing number of options joining the fray.

For instance, in the first half of 2023 sales of new electric vehicles amounted to 501, matching total sales for 2022. Along with this, trading has also been more encouraging on the used market. In the half-year of 2023, 131 used EVs found new homes, according to AutoTrader.

However, given that most EVs still cost more than a million rand new, it’s no surprise that premium brands such as BMW, Volvo, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jaguar and Porsche dominate both new and used sales.

Notably, half of all new and used EVs were sold by BMW in the first half of 2023, according to new car sales data from Naamsa, as well as AutoTrader used car sales data.

The Bavarian carmaker enjoyed a 51% share of new sales and a 50% share of used sales. This commanding success is perhaps unsurprising given that BMW offers the widest range of EV models and was one of the first brands to introduce EVs locally, launching its quirky BMW i3 in 2015. This used model sells for an average price of R600 950 and still tops the list of the most sold used EV models outpacing newer siblings iX3 and iX in fourth and fifth.

 
What it takes to build an engine at Ford SA’s prolific Struandale plant

While the world continues to look for viable alternatives to fossil fuel, for the foreseeable future at least, the demand for internal combustion engines continues unabated.

We experienced it first hand at Ford’s Struandale engine plant in Gqeberha recently where it assembled its four millionth engine since its first one came out of the plant in 1964.

During that time it has produced 11 different engines, including the 1.7-litre and 2.0-litre V4, the iconic Essex V6, as well as the 1.3L and 1.6L Kent four-cylinder engines.

Production statistics make for interesting reading as the plant ramped up its production over the years. The one-million engine mark was reached in 23 years (1987), with the two-millionth unit following 19 years later in 2006.

With significant investments and expanded production for the RoCam and Duratorq TDCi engine programs accelerating the plant’s output, it reached three million engines just eight years later in 2014, with the four-millionth unit emerging after a further nine years, in August 2023.

 
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