In September 2024, car sales in South Africa saw a 4.1% drop compared to the previous year, highlighting the difficulties facing the market. Despite this, some brands maintained strong positions in the top ten rankings.

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Market Leaders: Toyota and Volkswagen Retain the Lead

Toyota remained the best-selling brand in South Africa with 10,890 units sold, showing a slight increase from August’s 10,656 sales. Volkswagen (VW) held onto second place, improving from 5,645 to 5,885 units.

Close Competition: Suzuki, Hyundai, and Ford

Suzuki kept its position in third, though sales dipped from 5,131 in August to 5,032 in September. Meanwhile, Hyundai edged out Ford for fourth place with 2,841 units, just ahead of Ford’s 2,823.

Positions Shift Among the Sixth to Tenth Spots

Isuzu stayed stable in sixth with 1,960 units, while Great Wall Motors (GWM) rose from ninth to seventh place, reaching 1,740 units. Chery dropped to eighth with 1,614 sales, and Renault moved up to ninth with 1,426 units, leaving Nissan in tenth with 1,425 units—just one less than Renault.

Industry-Wide Trends and Sales Breakdown

In total, South Africa’s auto industry recorded 44,081 new vehicle sales in September, down by 1,889 units compared to last year. Dealership transactions accounted for 79%, rentals for 15%, government purchases for 3%, and corporate fleets for 2%. Passenger car sales rose by 2% to 30,218 units, while light commercial vehicle sales fell by 17.1%, closing at 10,914 units.

Decline in Exports and Future Expectations

Exports dropped significantly, with only 21,964 vehicles shipped internationally, marking a decrease of 13,535 units. Naamsa, The Automotive Business Council, suggests this decline is due to aging vehicle models and tightening environmental rules in major markets like Europe.

Despite these obstacles, the industry remains hopeful for improvement in vehicle demand later this year, supported by lower fuel prices, anticipated interest rate cuts, and a stronger rand.

September 2024’s Top 10 Car Brands in South Africa

  1. Toyota – 10,890 units
  2. Volkswagen (VW) – 5,885 units
  3. Suzuki – 5,032 units
  4. Hyundai – 2,841 units
  5. Ford – 2,823 units
  6. Isuzu – 1,960 units
  7. GWM – 1,740 units
  8. Chery – 1,614 units
  9. Renault – 1,426 units
  10. Nissan – 1,425 units