In August 2024, South Africa’s vehicle market showed mixed results, with some car brands increasing sales and others seeing slight declines. Toyota maintained its market lead, selling 10,656 units—though this marked a decrease of 475 units from July. Volkswagen (VW) followed in second place with 5,645 units, down by 533 units month-over-month.
Suzuki showed a positive trend, increasing its sales to 5,131 units, narrowing the gap with VW. Ford and Hyundai secured fourth and fifth positions, with 2,960 and 2,721 sales, respectively. Isuzu took sixth place, recording 1,961 units sold, slightly below the 2,000 mark.
Chinese brand Chery moved into seventh place with 1,626 units, overtaking Nissan, which finished in eighth with 1,621 units sold. Great Wall Motors (GWM) and Renault rounded out the top 10, with 1,608 and 1,367 units, respectively.
Market Trends and Insights
Total vehicle sales for August reached 43,588 units, marking a 4.9% decline (down by 2,266 units) compared to August 2023. Dealerships contributed 81.5% of these sales, followed by the rental sector at 12.4%, government at 3.3%, and corporate fleets at 2.8%.
Performance varied across vehicle categories. Passenger cars saw a modest increase, selling 30,022 units—a 3.1% year-over-year rise, driven by favorable economic factors, including a stronger rand, falling fuel prices, and lower consumer inflation. However, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), such as bakkies and minibuses, experienced a steep decline with 10,709 units sold, reflecting a 21.5% year-on-year drop.
Exports also struggled, with 28,073 vehicles shipped overseas—a 34.3% decline attributed to reduced demand in Europe, South Africa’s primary export destination. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), this likely reflects Europe’s economic challenges.
Top 10 Best-Selling Car Brands in South Africa (August 2024)
- Toyota – 10,656 units
- Volkswagen (VW) – 5,645 units
- Suzuki – 5,131 units
- Ford – 2,960 units
- Hyundai – 2,721 units
- Isuzu – 1,961 units
- Chery – 1,626 units
- Nissan – 1,621 units
- GWM – 1,608 units
- Renault – 1,367 units
In summary, while total sales saw a slight dip, the South African vehicle market remains steady, with Toyota and Volkswagen leading. Passenger car sales showed encouraging growth, although LCVs and exports continue to face challenges in the current economic landscape.
