The SA Vehicle Industry Thread

New Cars Coming to South Africa in 2025

With 2024 drawing to a rapid close, we set our sights on 2025 and list all the new cars coming to South Africa in 2025! What cars are you looking forward to most? See the list below!

Do you want to know what new cars are coming to South Africa in 2025? Cars.co.za has created the most comprehensive new car list for South Africa! Check it out!

With 2025 around the corner, South African car buyers have much to look forward to in terms of new car introductions. It will be a busy and important year for many car brands and buyers will have significantly more exciting cars to choose from in 2025.

New SUVs, large and small, account for the majority of new introductions but the market will also see a number of new electric vehicles reaching South Africa. Nonetheless, there are new and updated cars on the way to suit a wide range of budgets and needs, including entry-level cars and right up to ultra-luxurious cars and everything in between! There’s something for everyone in 2025!

Please note that this new car list is generated based on feedback from manufacturers as well as from what has been reported publicly by either Cars.co.za or elsewhere. We have tried our utmost to make this list as accurate and as definitive as possible. We will update this list regularly as we receive relevant information from manufacturers.

It’s also worth mentioning that arrival timings for new cars are tentative and are subject to change due to ongoing changes in the global supply chain.

Let’s take a look at what new cars are coming to South Africa in 2025!

 
Protect SA manufacturing from Chinese ‘flood’, says VW boss

The head of Volkswagen Group Africa has called on government to protect local manufacturing from the “flood” of new Chinese brands entering the market…

Volkswagen Group Africa’s boss has called on the South African government to “protect and support” local automotive manufacturing as more and more new Chinese brands “flood” the market.

The German firm, which builds the Polo hatchback and Polo Vivo at its Kariega facility in the Eastern Cape, will add a 3rd product (in the form of an as-yet-unrevealed small SUV known as the Tera in Brazil) to the production line in early 2027, following a R4-billion investment.

At Naamsa’s South African Auto Week 2024 in Cape Town, we asked Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa, for her thoughts on the stream of new Chinese brands entering the local market.

“Competition per se, I find it a good thing. It kind of evolves technology and it’s also a bit fun in the industry – no matter from where they come. When it becomes concerning is if the local manufacturers are, for some reason, not able to meet price points import competition can,” she told Cars.co.za.

“And it’s, I think, not because we are earning a hell of a lot of money. My R130-million I’ll have to invest into generators is an example,” Biene said, referring to the significant outlay VW Group Africa, as a local manufacturer, has had to make at its Kariega facility to mitigate the effects of load-shedding.

“Or a very low-volume base [of] manufacturing in South Africa, which makes it very difficult for our suppliers. We don’t have the economies of scale which you would normally need in our industry to, [in terms of] parts pricing, bring the prices down.

 
Nissan could have just 14 months to survive if it doesn’t find investor, insider reportedly says

Nissan is wading through troubled waters at present, with the Japanese carmaker recently having announced that it plans to reduce its global production capacity by 20% and its staff count by 9,000.

However, the situation could be even more dire than the company lets on, with an unnamed senior executive reportedly having told The Financial Times that the company has “12 to 14 months to survive”.

“This is going to be tough. And in the end, we need Japan and the US to be generating cash,” the insider told the publication.

This comes amid plans for Alliance partner Renault to gradually reduce its stake in Nissan. The French carmaker already cut its holding from 43.4% to 36% in 2023, and word on the street is that Honda could buy up some of the shares.

Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi have already signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop electric vehicles and software.

Meanwhile, Nissan’s turnaround plan, announced earlier in November, aims to reduce its fixed costs by 300 billion yen (R33.9 billion).

In addition to the aforementioned job losses and capacity reduction, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida and other senior executives have agreed to take a 50% pay cut.

Nissan’s turnaround actions will be monitored by a new Chief Performance Officer, who will be appointed from December 1.

 
Skedonks in disguise! Faulty used cars becoming big headache in South Africa

More and more South Africans are discovering major defects with their used cars shortly after purchase, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) warns.

In many cases people are left stuck with vehicles that they can no longer use, and yet which they still owe money on.

On average the commission is receiving around 250 to 300 complaints per month from used car buyers, spokesperson Phetho Ntaba told Newzroom Afrika in a recent interview.

“Consumers say when they bought these vehicles, they were not given information about the car or history of the car; they experience defects within a short period of time - be it a month, a day or three days … the shortest period of time,” Ntaba said.

Worse still, many dealerships bluntly refuse to repair the vehicle or refund the client, even after being approached by the NCC, while shoddy and unsatisfactory repairs are also commonplace in cases where dealers do agree to remedy the situation.

At times, dealers even refuse to assist the customer after the Motor Industry Ombudsman has been involved, Ntaba told the news broadcaster, and some also blame the driving behaviour of the owner. In many cases, dealers will hide behind the “voetstoots” (as is) clause.

 
Stellantis CEO Tavares resigns with immediate effect amid profit fallout

Stellantis chief executive Carlos Tavares resigned "with immediate effect" on Sunday, the auto giant announced, signalling differences over how to confront the group's profit slump.

The Italian-US-French company, whose 14 brands include Fiat, Peugeot-Citroen, Opel, Maserati, Chrysler, Ram and Jeep, said in a statement that the board had accepted the resignation of the 66-year-old Portuguese executive.

"In recent weeks different views have emerged which have resulted in the board and the CEO coming to today's decision," independent director Henri de Castries said in the statement, without giving details.

The group said in September that it had started looking for a successor for Tavares, who had been due to stand down when his current five-year contract ends in early 2026.

"The process to appoint the new permanent chief executive officer is well under way, managed by a special committee of the board, and will be concluded within the first half of 2025," said the statement.

It added that an "interim executive committee" led by chairman John Elkann will run the company until then.

Stellantis has reported growing difficulties in recent months that Tavares had acknowledged as stormy. Several model launches were delayed because of electrical problems.

 
5 top-10 brands hit highs! SA’s new-car sales in November 2024

November 2024 was the SA new-vehicle market’s best month of the year so far, with 5 top-10 brands hitting 2024 highs. Here’s your overview, including Mzansi’s best-selling automakers…

South Africa’s new-vehicle market recorded a 2nd consecutive year-on-year increase in monthly sales, with local registrations in November 2024 growing 8.1% to 48 585 units. Moreover, November was the best month of the year so far, beating October’s tally of 47 942 units. According to Naamsa, this showing “could signal the start of the long-awaited upward trend” in the market.

The positive local sales performance, however, did not extend to the export market, with 30 431 units – a year-on-year decline of 28.6% – shipped from Mzansi’s shores in November 2024. So, over the opening 11 months of the year, vehicle exports are 23.9% down compared with the same reporting period in 2023.

New-vehicle sales summary for November 2024

- Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 48 585 units increased by 8.1% (3 658 units) compared to November 2023.
- New passenger-vehicle sales of 35 101 units increased by 20% (5 849 units) compared to November 2023.
- New light-commercial vehicle sales of 10 827 units decreased by 16.3% (2 110 units) compared to November 2023.
- Export sales of 30 431 units decreased by 28.6% (12 110 units) compared to November 2023.

10 best-selling automakers in SA in November 2024

1. Toyota – 12 106 units

2. Volkswagen Group – 6 321 units

3. Suzuki – 6 004 units

4. Ford – 3 071 units

5. Hyundai – 2 940 units

6. Isuzu – 2 061 units

7. Chery – 2 006 units

8. GWM – 1 847 units

9. Kia – 1 662 units

10. Renault – 1 505 units

 
Toyota Hilux knocked from top sales spot as car and SUV sales boom in November

It’s been a mediocre year for South Africa’s new vehicle market, but with interest rates finally subsiding, the industry has entered a growth phase once again.

According to Naamsa, November saw a year-on-year new vehicle sales gain for the second month in a row, with the market improving by 8.1% versus the same month in 2023.

Passenger vehicle sales, amounting to 35,101 units in November, continue to lead the growth, showing a gain of 20% year-on-year. This was largely fuelled by sales to the car rental industry, which accounted for nearly one in five cars and SUVs sold in South Africa last month.

However, the bakkie and light commercial vehicle market continues to decline, with November’s total of 10,827 units being 16.3% lower than November 2023’s figure. This is partly due to the demise of the Nissan NP200, which brought the end to South Africa’s half-tonne bakkie market.

Top 50: Best-Selling Vehicles in South Africa - November 2024

Volkswagen Polo Vivo - 2,999
Toyota Hilux - 2,702
Toyota Corolla Cross - 2,655
Ford Ranger - 2,248
Suzuki Swift - 1,776
Isuzu D-Max - 1,764
Hyundai Grand i10 - 1,296
Toyota Starlet - 1,238
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro - 1,191
Haval Jolion - 1,062
Kia Sonet - 1,059
Volkswagen Polo - 1,003
Nissan Magnite - 945
Suzuki Fronx - 888
Toyota Fortuner - 872
Toyota Urban Cruiser - 870
Toyota Starlet Cross - 710
Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up - 699
Renault Kwid - 692
Toyota Hi-Ace - 635
Suzuki Baleno - 574
Mahindra XUV 3X0 - 511
Volkswagen T-Cross - 479
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro - 468
Toyota Rumion - 445
Suzuki Dzire - 441
Renault Kiger - 439
Suzuki Jimny 439
Hyundai Exter - 438
Omoda C5 - 419
Toyota Vitz - 407
Hyundai i20 - 379
Toyota Corolla Quest - 369
Nissan Navara - 344
Renault Triber - 343
Volkswagen Amarok - 337
Haval H6 - 334
Suzuki Ciaz - 330
Ford Territory - 326
Toyota Land Cruiser PU - 290
Ford Everest - 282
GWM P-Series - 280
Volkswagen Tiguan - 255
Suzuki S-Presso - 213
Suzuki Grand Vitara - 212
Hyundai H100 Bakkie - 206
Chery Tiggo Cross - 205
Jaecoo J7 - 202
Kia Seltos - 201
Kia Pegas - 200

Top 15: Manufacturer Sales

Toyota - 12,106
Volkswagen Group - 6,321
Suzuki Auto - 6,004
Ford Mo Co - 3,071
Hyundai - R2,940
Isuzu Motors - 2,061
Chery Auto - 2,006
GWM SA - 1,847
Kia SA - 1,662
Renault - 1,505
Mahindra - 1,368
Nissan - 1,326
BMW Group - 1,083
Omoda & Jaecoo - 711
Stellantis - 553

 
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