The SA Vehicle Industry Thread

The models that drove BMW back into SA’s top 10 in June 2025

The BMW Group returned to the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling automakers in June 2025. Here’s which models drove sales for the Munich-based brand last month…

In June 2025, the BMW Group cracked the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling automakers, registering 1 349 units to return to the table (placing 10th) for the first time since June of the prior year. So, which models drove sales for the Munich-based local division last month?

Well, we should first point out that BMW Group South Africa reports individual model sales figures to Naamsa only quarterly, in line with what the industry representative body terms the German brand’s “global directive”. June 2025 represented the 2nd time this year we’ve been able to have a peek at these fascinating numbers.

For the record, 813 units or 60.3% of the total figure of 1 349 units represented sales via the dealer channel, while as many as 320 units (or 23.7%) were sold to the vehicle-rental industry. A further 200 units were reported as so-called “single” registrations (that is, vehicles BMW registered and kept for its own use), while the remaining 16 units represented sales to government.

In June 2025, the X3 was BMW’s top-selling nameplate in South Africa, with 339 units (including 85 units in the rental space) registered. Furthermore, a whopping 6 744 examples of the locally built X3 were exported from Plant Rosslyn in Gauteng.

 
Top 5 Vehicle Exporters in South Africa — June 2025

Although the current shift in global trade policy poses challenges to vehicle exports, there was an increase in the number of vehicles exported from South Africa in June 2025. Here’s the breakdown and top five.

Despite the growing toll of geopolitical and trade-related disruptions to the market, in June 2025, South Africa’s vehicle exports registered increased by 7.9% (or 2 647 units) to 36 343 units compared to the same month in June 2024.

In June 2025, Volkswagen Group South Africa recorded the most significant increase in vehicle exports, with 12 159 units, an increase of 7 854, shipped from the German marque’s Kariega manufacturing plant to global shores. As a reminder, VW’s local assembly facility produces the (SA-only) Polo Vivo, Polo and, soon, Tengo entry-level compact crossover. It’s also the only production line where the Polo GTI is built.

Ford South Africa and BMW Group also saw increases in vehicle exports, with the former and latter’s June 2025 export figures trumping May 2025’s by 419 and 1 044 units, respectively. Locally, the Blue Oval brand produces the Ranger, South Africa’s second best-selling bakkie in June 2025, and the German marque, the X3. Noteworthy, the X3 30e is exclusively built in South Africa.

Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) saw a decline in vehicle exports, registering 4 900 and 4 247 exported units, respectively.

South Africa’s Top 5 Vehicle Exporters in June 2025

Volkswagen Group SA — 12 159 units (up 7 854)
Ford Motor Company — 7 382 units (up 419)
BMW Group — 6 744 units (up 1 044)
Mercedes-Benz SA — 4 900 units (down 1 700)
Toyota — 4 247 units (down 1 319)

www.carmag.co.za

Top 5 Vehicle Exporters in South Africa — June 2025

Although the current shift in global trade policy poses challenges, there was an increase in the number of exports from SA in June 2025
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
Cars priced below R400,000 are driving the growth in SA's new vehicle market

The good times are rolling in South Africa’s new vehicle market, with nine consecutive months of sales growth putting the industry 13.6% ahead of where it was this time last year, Naamsa figures show.

June was a particularly strong month for the motor trade, with year-on-year sales growing by 18.7% to 47,294 units, as both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles made solid gains of 21.7% and 14.9% respectively.

But household budgets remain tight and much of the growth is currently concentrated at the lower end of the vehicle market.

“The majority of the growth we’re seeing is centred in the sub-R400,000 segment,” said Brandon Cohen, chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA). “This price point remains critical for volume, affordability and trade-ins, with a direct knock-on effect on pre-owned sales performance,”

He added that the used vehicle market was also benefiting from improved affordability metrics, driven by softened interest rates, favourable vehicle pricing, and the rollout of the two-pot retirement savings reform.

Most telling is that 24 of the 30 best-selling new passenger vehicles in South Africa last month (see IOL's top 50 list here) have a starting price of below R400,000.

In fact, four of the five top-sellers, namely the Volkswagen Polo Vivo, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, Suzuki Swift, and Hyundai Grand i10, all have starting prices of less than R300,000.

Many buyers continue to face budget constraints, said Lebo Gaoaketse, marketing head of WesBank, and at a finance level this is being seen through longer contract terms and lower credit amounts.

"These are two major indicators of affordability pressure to reduce monthly installments within the need for new replacement vehicles,” Gaoaketse added. “In short: South Africans want new cars – but they’re spending less on them.”

 
Mahindra soars as Nissan tumbles: H1 2025 sales in SA

Mahindra posted the strongest sales growth in the top 10 of SA’s new-vehicle market for H1 2025, while Nissan tumbled 7 spots to 12th. Read on for this and other insights…

In the opening half of 2025, South Africa’s new-vehicle market grew an encouraging 13.6% year on year to 278 911 units. So, what happened on the list of Mzansi’s best-selling automakers for H1 2025?

Well, we’ve tallied up the figures and compared them to those from the corresponding period in 2024, allowing us to identify not only the best-selling automakers but also their year-on-year changes in sales volumes and indeed any movement up or down the rankings. Let’s get stuck in…

Toyota dominates as Suzuki secures 2nd

Toyota’s dominance of South Africa’s new-vehicle market continues unchallenged, with the Japanese giant – including its Lexus and Hino subsidiaries – posting 12.2% year-on-year growth to end H1 2025 on a whopping 67 938 units. By our maths, that represents a market share as high as 24.4% (or virtually 1 in every 4 vehicles sold new in SA).

Meanwhile, Suzuki’s rise continues, with the Hamamatsu-based brand’s local division growing its sales 22.7% year on year to 34 461 units, seeing it move up a ranking to 2nd in the opening half of 2025. As such, Suzuki enjoys a 5 095-unit buffer over the next-best contender as it heads into the latter half of the year.


1751619878804.png
 
FiestaST said:
Mahindra soars as Nissan tumbles: H1 2025 sales in SA

Mahindra posted the strongest sales growth in the top 10 of SA’s new-vehicle market for H1 2025, while Nissan tumbled 7 spots to 12th. Read on for this and other insights…

In the opening half of 2025, South Africa’s new-vehicle market grew an encouraging 13.6% year on year to 278 911 units. So, what happened on the list of Mzansi’s best-selling automakers for H1 2025?

Well, we’ve tallied up the figures and compared them to those from the corresponding period in 2024, allowing us to identify not only the best-selling automakers but also their year-on-year changes in sales volumes and indeed any movement up or down the rankings. Let’s get stuck in…

Toyota dominates as Suzuki secures 2nd

Toyota’s dominance of South Africa’s new-vehicle market continues unchallenged, with the Japanese giant – including its Lexus and Hino subsidiaries – posting 12.2% year-on-year growth to end H1 2025 on a whopping 67 938 units. By our maths, that represents a market share as high as 24.4% (or virtually 1 in every 4 vehicles sold new in SA).

Meanwhile, Suzuki’s rise continues, with the Hamamatsu-based brand’s local division growing its sales 22.7% year on year to 34 461 units, seeing it move up a ranking to 2nd in the opening half of 2025. As such, Suzuki enjoys a 5 095-unit buffer over the next-best contender as it heads into the latter half of the year.


View attachment 1832396
Click to expand...
Chery group is killing it, I think the chery group are selling more cars in a day then brands like honda does in a month.
 
FiestaST said:
He added that the used vehicle market was also benefiting from improved affordability metrics, driven by softened interest rates, favourable vehicle pricing, and the rollout of the two-pot retirement savings reform.
Click to expand...
Using pension fund payouts to buy a new car?
 
FiestaST said:
Mahindra soars as Nissan tumbles: H1 2025 sales in SA

Mahindra posted the strongest sales growth in the top 10 of SA’s new-vehicle market for H1 2025, while Nissan tumbled 7 spots to 12th. Read on for this and other insights…

In the opening half of 2025, South Africa’s new-vehicle market grew an encouraging 13.6% year on year to 278 911 units. So, what happened on the list of Mzansi’s best-selling automakers for H1 2025?

Well, we’ve tallied up the figures and compared them to those from the corresponding period in 2024, allowing us to identify not only the best-selling automakers but also their year-on-year changes in sales volumes and indeed any movement up or down the rankings. Let’s get stuck in…

Toyota dominates as Suzuki secures 2nd

Toyota’s dominance of South Africa’s new-vehicle market continues unchallenged, with the Japanese giant – including its Lexus and Hino subsidiaries – posting 12.2% year-on-year growth to end H1 2025 on a whopping 67 938 units. By our maths, that represents a market share as high as 24.4% (or virtually 1 in every 4 vehicles sold new in SA).

Meanwhile, Suzuki’s rise continues, with the Hamamatsu-based brand’s local division growing its sales 22.7% year on year to 34 461 units, seeing it move up a ranking to 2nd in the opening half of 2025. As such, Suzuki enjoys a 5 095-unit buffer over the next-best contender as it heads into the latter half of the year.


View attachment 1832396
Click to expand...
If you sum all of Chery, they top 4. Impressive.
 
Toyota South Africa Dominates Market Share with June 2025 Sales

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) recorded strong sales in June 2025, reaffirming its market leadership in the competitive local automotive landscape. With 11 670 new vehicles sold, Toyota increased its overall market share to 24.7%.

Toyota’s passenger vehicle sales totalled 7 016 units, placing the Japanese marque’s local arm at the forefront of this segment. The Corolla Cross emerged as South Africa’s best-selling passenger car, with over 2 000 units sold. The Fortuner and Starlet followed, registering 878 and 852 units, respectively, and ranking 9th and 10th among the country’s best-selling passenger cars. The Vitz also displayed a strong performance with 794 units, an increase of 170 units over May 2025.

In the premium segment, Lexus recorded 104 units, with the NX and GX, which we sampled in Overtrail guise in April 2025, leading the brand’s local success, selling 34 and 33 units, respectively.

www.carmag.co.za

Toyota South Africa Dominates Market Share with June 2025 Sales

Toyota South Africa recorded strong sales in June 2025, reaffirming its market leadership in SA's competitive automotive landscape
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
SA bakkie sales in H1 2025: the winners and losers

With half of the year gone, which bakkies registered growth and which ones lost ground? We crunch the numbers for H1 2025 to identify SA’s best- and worst-selling bakkies…

In the opening half of 2025, sales in South Africa’s light-commercial segment – which includes bakkies, mini-buses and vans, though is dominated by the former – declined 1.7% year on year to 68 161 units. But how did sales pan out for the individual contenders in Mzansi’s traditional bakkie space in H1 2025?

Well, we’ve tallied up the figures for the first half of 2025, allowing us to both identify SA’s best-selling bakkies for this 6-month period and track instances of year-on-year growth. Of course, we’ll also detail the bakkies that failed to crack the top 10 in H1 2025 as well as show which models didn’t improve their numbers compared to H1 2024 (spoiler: 4 saw year-on-year declines).

Bakkie podium unchanged in H1 2025

Bakkie sales in South Africa in H1 2025

BAKKIE H1 2025 SALES Y-O-Y CHANGE
1 Toyota Hilux 16 526 units +5.0%
2 Ford Ranger 12 398 units +1.5%
3 Isuzu D-Max 9 846 units +4.2%
4 Mahindra Pik Up 5 079 units +21.3%
5 Toyota Land Cruiser 79 2 897 units +45.0%
6 Nissan Navara 2 630 units +7.7%
7 GWM P-Series 1 947 units -5.3%
8 Volkswagen Amarok 1 688 units -15.7%
9 Foton Tunland G7 1 089 units no H1 2024 data
10 JAC T-Series 903 units +47.5%
11 GWM Steed 644 units +2.9%
12 Peugeot Landtrek 484 units +29.8%
13 Mahindra Bolero 311 units +26.4%
14 Mitsubishi Triton 269 units -7.9%
15 Jeep Gladiator 30 units +25.0%
16 Nissan NP200 18 units -99.7%

 
FiestaST said:
SA bakkie sales in H1 2025: the winners and losers

With half of the year gone, which bakkies registered growth and which ones lost ground? We crunch the numbers for H1 2025 to identify SA’s best- and worst-selling bakkies…

In the opening half of 2025, sales in South Africa’s light-commercial segment – which includes bakkies, mini-buses and vans, though is dominated by the former – declined 1.7% year on year to 68 161 units. But how did sales pan out for the individual contenders in Mzansi’s traditional bakkie space in H1 2025?

Well, we’ve tallied up the figures for the first half of 2025, allowing us to both identify SA’s best-selling bakkies for this 6-month period and track instances of year-on-year growth. Of course, we’ll also detail the bakkies that failed to crack the top 10 in H1 2025 as well as show which models didn’t improve their numbers compared to H1 2024 (spoiler: 4 saw year-on-year declines).

Bakkie podium unchanged in H1 2025

Bakkie sales in South Africa in H1 2025

BAKKIE H1 2025 SALES Y-O-Y CHANGE
1 Toyota Hilux 16 526 units +5.0%
2 Ford Ranger 12 398 units +1.5%
3 Isuzu D-Max 9 846 units +4.2%
4 Mahindra Pik Up 5 079 units +21.3%
5 Toyota Land Cruiser 79 2 897 units +45.0%
6 Nissan Navara 2 630 units +7.7%
7 GWM P-Series 1 947 units -5.3%
8 Volkswagen Amarok 1 688 units -15.7%
9 Foton Tunland G7 1 089 units no H1 2024 data
10 JAC T-Series 903 units +47.5%
11 GWM Steed 644 units +2.9%
12 Peugeot Landtrek 484 units +29.8%
13 Mahindra Bolero 311 units +26.4%
14 Mitsubishi Triton 269 units -7.9%
15 Jeep Gladiator 30 units +25.0%
16 Nissan NP200 18 units -99.7%

Click to expand...

Interesting to see that there are still new NP200s being sold.
 
Top 5 Best-Selling Chinese Cars in South Africa — June 2025

Here’s the breakdown of South Africa’s top-five best-selling Chinese passenger cars in June 2025.

In June 2025, South Africa’s passenger-car segment saw a notable increase in sales. Toyota’s locally-built Corolla Cross ruled the roost, placing first above the Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Chery’s Tiggo 4 Pro. But how did the latter’s passenger-car compatriots fare in the sixth month of 2025? Here’s the rundown…

1. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro — 1 538 units

2. Haval Jolion — 1 116 units

3. Omoda C5 — 478 units

4. Haval H6 — 456 units

5. Chery Tiggo 7 Pro — 401 units

www.carmag.co.za

Top 5 Best-Selling Chinese Cars in South Africa — June 2025

June 2025's passenger-car segment saw an increase in sals. But how did the Chinese automaker's fare? Here's the breakdown...
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
Fronx surges, Polo relegated: SA’s passenger-car sales in H1 2025

Which vehicles surged up South Africa’s passenger-car sales rankings for H1 2025 and which ones fell? We’ve crunched the numbers to identify the market’s winners and losers…

In the first half of 2025, sales in South Africa’s passenger-car segment increased 21.3% year on year to 196 100 units. So, which vehicles led the charge – and which ones slipped down the charts – in H1 2025?

Well, we’ve crunched the numbers for the opening half of the year, allowing us to identify Mzansi’s 15 best-selling passenger vehicles for this 6-month reporting period as well as track instances of year-on-year growth or decline. We’ve also noted any movement up or down the rankings (check out the table at the bottom of this article).

SA’s 15 best-selling passenger vehicles in H1 2025

Vehicle H1 2025 SALES Y-O-Y CHANGE RANKING CHANGE
1 Suzuki Swift 11 948 units +37.9% +2
2 Volkswagen Polo Vivo 11 310 units -3.6% -1
3 Toyota Corolla Cross 9 576 units -7.5% -1
4 Hyundai Grand i10 (ex LCV) 7 836 units +27.8% +1
5 Toyota Starlet 7 330 units -3.3% -1
6 Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (ex LCV) 7 297 units +19.6% unchanged
7 Suzuki Fronx 6 463 units +162.8% +12
8 Haval Jolion 6 385 units +79.5% +2
9 Toyota Starlet Cross 5 195 units no H1 2024 data no H1 2024 ranking
10 Kia Sonet (ex LCV) 4 930 units +72.8% +3
11 Volkswagen Polo (hatch) 4 809 units -14.7% -4
12 Suzuki Ertiga 4 352 units +53.8% +2
13 Nissan Magnite (ex LCV) 4 293 units -11.7% -4
14 Toyota Urban Cruiser 4 247 units +56.2% +2
15 Toyota Fortuner 4 242 units -14.7% -7

 
How happy are dealers with the vehicle manufacturers? 2025 DSI survey shows how they rank

Vehicle dealers face a great deal of pressure in maintaining customer satisfaction, often under trying circumstances. But how much support do they receive from the car manufacturers whose brands they represent?

This often overlooked aspect, which affects a dealer’s ability to provide satisfactory service, is highlighted by the National Automobile Dealers’ Association’s (NADA) annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI).

Consisting of online questionnaires tailored to dealer principals, the 2025 DSI survey gathered 1,588 responses across all vehicle segments, covering around 87% of the country's dealer footprint.

The scores, which were benchmarked against industry averages, rated original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) according to three criteria: Dealer Friendly (20%), Investor Friendly (40%), and Customer Friendly (40%).

When the scores were tallied, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze status awards were allocated to the top-performing OEMs:

Passenger and LCV Segment

Platinum Status: BMW and Suzuki
Gold Status: Toyota, Hyundai, Jetour, Lexus, Kia, Mini, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Volvo, GWM, Renault
Silver Status: Mahindra, Ford, Chery, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Omoda & Jaecoo
Bronze Status: Isuzu, Audi, Subaru, Mazda
Commercial Vehicle Segment

Platinum Status: Hino
Gold Status: Mercedes-Benz Trucks, MAN, UD Trucks
Silver Status: FUSO
Bronze Status: Isuzu Trucks, FAW

The top performers have also seen success on the sales charts, with Suzuki Auto having become South Africa's second best-selling car brand in 2025. BMW, although affected by a general decline in premium vehicle sales, has gained back some ground in recent times, rejoining the top 10 in June 2025.

 
Trump's 30% tariffs threaten South Africa's auto industry: what it means for the future

American President Donald Trump made good on his recent threats to slap South Africa with 30% tariffs yesterday, “on any and all South African products sent into the United States".

The US is South Africa’s second-biggest trading partner.

In an official letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, he said the tariffs will come into effect on August 1 but are separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.

Modified

He said rates could be modified “upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country”.

“We have had years to discuss our trading relationship with South Africa, and have concluded that we must move away from these long-term, and very persistent, trade deficits engendered by South Africa’s tariff, and non-tariff, policies and trade barriers,” the letter said.

Trump added that if South Africa were to increase its tariffs in response to the announcement, that amount would be added on top of the 30%.

"If you wish to open your heretofore closed trading markets to the United States, and eliminate your tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter."

 
SA’s 10 best-selling ladder-frame SUVs in 1st half of 2025

Which ladder-frame SUVs proved most popular with South African buyers in the first half of the year? We’ve sorted through the sales figures for H1 2025 to find out…

South Africa’s passenger-vehicle sales charts are dominated by budget hatchbacks and unibody crossovers. But what about proper ladder-frame SUVs? Which examples proved most popular with local buyers in the opening half of 2025?

Well, we’ve combed through the H1 2025 sales statistics to identify the local market’s 10 best-selling body-on-frame SUVs. Before we dive in, keep in mind that since Mercedes-Benz doesn’t report sales figures to Naamsa, we don’t know how many G-Class units were registered in H1 2025. And it’s the same case with Ineos and its Grenadier.

SA’s 10 best-selling ladder-frame SUVs of H1 2025

VEHICLE H1 2025 SALES Y-O-Y CHANGE
1 Toyota Fortuner 4 242 units -14.7%
2 Suzuki Jimny 1 802 units -11.2%
3 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 1 786 units +57.4%
4 Ford Everest 1 728 units +7.0%
5 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 913 units +19.0%
6 Isuzu MU-X 711 units +38.9%
7 Mahindra Scorpio-N 573 units +16.5%
8 GWM Tank 300 516 units +156.7%
9 Lexus GX 196 units no H1 2024 data
10 Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series 181 units +34.1%

 
How New Car Taxes Drive up SA Vehicle Prices

Taxes contribute substantially to new-vehicle prices. Rising production and shipping costs – plus a weak exchange rate – make cars more expensive, but they’re not the only reasons. A significant portion of the cost of a new car is due to the taxes applied to it!

“Two things in life are certain: death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin wrote that in 1789, and the debate continues both locally and internationally about how these taxes are used.

If we received a monetary tip every time someone commented on our new-car content, saying new cars “are overpriced” or “too expensive,” we might all afford to retire early.

Inflation is a fact of life and unavoidable, but taxes and duties on vehicles, which consumers ultimately pay, are a major factor in the cost of new cars.

Other costs are also built into the showroom price (a topic for another day), but this article focuses purely on the taxes and duties that influence new-car prices in South Africa.

 
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