In September 2024, South Africa’s car sales showed a 4.1% year-on-year decline, reflecting a challenging market environment. However, several brands continued to perform well, maintaining their positions among the top ten best-sellers.
Leading Brands: Toyota and Volkswagen at the Top
Toyota remained the top choice for South African car buyers, with an impressive 10,890 units sold—slightly higher than its August sales of 10,656. Following Toyota, Volkswagen (VW) held onto its second-place position, selling 5,885 units, an increase from 5,645 the previous month.
Suzuki, Hyundai, and Ford Compete for Top Spots
Suzuki, though still in third, saw a slight dip in sales, moving from 5,131 units in August to 5,032 in September. Hyundai and Ford continued to compete closely for fourth place. Hyundai edged ahead with 2,841 units, while Ford was just behind with 2,823 units sold.
Shifts in Sixth to Tenth Place
The sixth spot went to Isuzu, which achieved similar results to August with 1,960 units sold. Meanwhile, Great Wall Motors (GWM) saw an increase in sales, moving from ninth to seventh place with 1,740 units. Chery slipped to eighth with 1,614 units, while Renault moved up to ninth with 1,426 units. Nissan rounded out the top ten with 1,425 units, only one unit behind Renault.
Overall Industry Performance
In total, the South African automotive industry recorded 44,081 new vehicle sales in September 2024, which is 1,889 units fewer than the previous year. Dealership transactions made up 79% of these sales, rental fleets contributed 15%, government sales 3%, and corporate fleets 2%. Passenger vehicles grew slightly, with a 2% year-on-year increase totaling 30,218 units, but light commercial vehicle sales declined by 17.1%, ending at 10,914 units.
Export Challenges and Future Outlook
Export figures fell sharply, with only 21,964 units shipped internationally, marking a decline of 13,535 units from the previous year. Naamsa, The Automotive Business Council, attributed this drop to an aging vehicle lineup and stricter environmental regulations in key markets like Europe.
Despite these challenges, there’s optimism in the industry. Lower fuel prices, anticipated interest rate cuts, and a strengthening rand are expected to boost vehicle demand in the coming months.
September 2024’s Top 10 Best-Selling Car Brands
- Toyota – 10,890 units
- Volkswagen (VW) – 5,885 units
- Suzuki – 5,032 units
- Hyundai – 2,841 units
- Ford – 2,823 units
- Isuzu – 1,960 units
- GWM – 1,740 units
- Chery – 1,614 units
- Renault – 1,426 units
- Nissan – 1,425 units
