South African vehicle sales surge to six-year high in July: these were the 15 top-selling manufacturers
South African new vehicle sales surged to their highest level in almost six years in July, cementing 10 consecutive months of growth for the industry.
July saw a total of 51,383 vehicles being sold across the country, Naamsa | the Automotive Business Council reported, which is the highest monthly sales figure recorded since October 2019.
This figure also represents a 15.6% improvement over July 2024. New passenger car sales, at 36,248 units, led the way with year-on-year growth of 20.1%, buoyed by strong rental car sales that accounted for 14% of this segment.
Light commercial vehicle sales, at 11,556 units, grew by a more modest 6.9% versus the same month last year, while medium commercial vehicle sales grew by 13.9% to 703 units. Heavy commercials and buses declined by 1.3% to 2,076 units.
Dealer sales accounted for 83.1% of the overall vehicle market, followed by the rental industry (11.1%), government (3.1%) and industry corporates (2.7%).
Toyota enjoyed its usual lofty lead, with an impressive total volume of 12,694 units, followed by Suzuki Auto (6,257) and Volkswagen (5,738).
15 Top Manufacturers: July 2025
Toyota - 12,694
Suzuki Auto - 6,257
Volkswagen - 5,738
Hyundai - 3,161
Ford - 2,877
GWM SA - 2,436
Isuzu - 2,427
Chery - 2,160
Kia - 1,891
Mahindra - 1,441
Renault - 1,320
BMW - 1,249
Nissan - 1,190
Omoda & Jaecoo - 1,069
Jetour - 717
Consumer confidence, improved affordability
Naamsa attributed the improved sales picture to improving consumer confidence, favourable credit conditions, and a steady recovery in disposable incomes.
The recent decision by the South African Reserve Bank to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7.00% is expected to stimulate the economy further.
In addition, inflation remains subdued, and while headline inflation rose to 3.0% in June, core inflation eased slightly to 2.9% in June.
'There remains a direct correlation between the rate-cutting cycle and the upturn in new vehicle sales,' says Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank.
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