South Africa‘s new vehicle sales have continued their upward trend, defying economic headwinds, though a recent US import tariff has impacted export figures.
In a testament to the resilience of the South African automotive market, new vehicle sales have demonstrated sustained positive momentum. This performance underscores the confidence in the country’s economic trajectory and the strategic importance of a stable macroeconomic policy environment,according to naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa.
While overall sales figures remain robust, the sector is facing challenges from international trade policies.The implementation of a 25% US import tariff has resulted in a 1.9% decrease in new vehicle exports,dropping from 36,056 units to 35,379 units for the month. This progress has drawn sharp criticism from Naamsa, with Mabasa expressing deep disappointment and concern over the potential for severe socio-economic fallout without urgent trade remedies. Naamsa is actively engaging with the government to advocate for a fair and reciprocal trading relationship, emphasizing the long-standing automotive ties between South Africa and the US.
The domestic market,however,shows strength across different vehicle segments. Medium-duty commercial vehicles saw a significant increase of 13.9%,with sales rising from 617 to 703 units. Conversely, heavy-duty trucks and buses experienced a slight decline of 1.3%, falling from 2,103 to 2,076 units.
Dealer sales remain the dominant channel,accounting for 83.1% of the total 51,383 vehicles sold. The remaining sales where distributed among rental agencies (11.1%), corporate fleets (2.7%),and government purchases (3.1%).
Looking ahead, Naamsa is exploring strategies to mitigate the impact of the US tariffs. These include deepening regional trade, expanding market access in Africa and Asia, and accelerating the adoption of new-energy vehicle technologies to attract investment and safeguard production capacity.
Top 10 Best-Selling Marques
The performance of leading automotive brands in south Africa, compared to the previous month, is as follows:
- toyota – 12,694 (No change)
- Suzuki – 6,257 (No change)
- Volkswagen – 5,738 (No change)
- Hyundai – 3,161 (Up 1 position)
- Ford – 2,877 (Down 1 position)
- GWM – 2,436 (No change)
- Isuzu – 2,427 (Up 1 position)
- Chery – 2,160 (Down 1 position)
- Kia – 1,891 (Up 3 positions)
- Mahindra – 1,441 (Down 1 position)