The Suzuki Swift is the best-selling vehicle in South Africa in January.

New vehicle sales in South Africa start the year on the right foot with a sturdy 10.4% year-on-year improvement in January to 46,398 units. Toyota (+11.9%) holds onto the manufacturers top spot with 26.2% share vs. 24.9% over the Full Year 2024. The surprise of the month is the 2nd place of Suzuki (+22.2%) overtaking the VW Group (+2.8%) with 13.8% share vs. 12.2%. Hyundai (+26.3%) is at a distant 4th place but shines nonetheless. Mahindra (+66.6%), Chery (+34.2%) and GWM (+20%) also impress below. We welcome Jetour at #15 and 1% share.

We have another surprise atop the models ranking: the Suzuki Swift surges 68.9% to topple the Toyota Hilux (-4.1%) for the title of best-selling car in the country. This is the Swift’s first win in South Africa since June 2022. The VW Polo Vivo (+25.3%) continues to impress at #3, followed by the Toyota Starlet (+47.4%) up four spots on last month to #4. Excellent scores also by the GWM Haval Jolion (+93.8%), Hyundai Grand i10 (+54.8%) and Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (+22.8%). Notice also the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 up to #22 and the Jetour Dashing landing directly at #44.

Previous post: South Africa Full Year 2024: Toyota Hilux and VW Polo Vivo most popular

One year ago: South Africa January 2024: Chery hits record ranking, BAIC appears

Full January 2025 Top 40 All manufacturers and Top 50 models below.

South Africa January 2025 – brands:

PosManufacturerJan-25%/24DecFY241Toyota12,15226.2%+ 11.9%112Suzuki6,39913.8%+ 22.2%333Volkswagen Group5,67612.2%+ 2.8%224Hyundai2,7605.9%+ 26.3%455Ford2,2394.8%– 7.5%546Chery1,9134.1%+ 34.2%687GWM (incl. Haval)1,7563.8%+ 20.0%798Isuzu1,7333.7%+ 7.6%969Mahindra1,4633.2%+ 66.6%111210Kia1,4283.1%+ 6.3%81111Renault1,4093.0%– 0.1%101012BMW Group1,1842.6%+ 44.2%121313Nissan1,1622.5%– 49.8%13714Omoda and Jaecoo7431.6%new141815Jetour4511.0%new – –16Mercedes4140.9%– 18.0%161417Stellantis3840.8%– 9.2%151518FAW Trucks3340.7%– 9.7%191619Mazda2690.6%– 10.9%211920BAIC2510.5%– 14.9%242621Jaguar Land Rover2410.5%– 5.1%182222Daimler Trucks2380.5%– 8.1%171723Honda2070.4%– 29.4%202124JAC2010.4%+ 42.6%292925Mitsubishi1760.4%– 25.7%222426Scania1310.3%– 25.6%232027Man1260.3%– 10.6%302828UD Trucks1220.3%+ 1.7%262329Volvo Group870.2%– 5.4%252530Volvo Cars810.2%– 33.1%312731Porsche750.2%– 2.6%283032Powerstar750.2%+ 78.6%323133Sinotruk640.1%+ 73.0%273534Tata600.1%+ 20.0%343435Subaru520.1%+ 4.0%363636Proton430.1%– 36.8%353237Iveco300.1%– 54.5%333338Babcock170.0%+ 6.3%383739VECV South Africa150.0%+ 25.0%373840Ferrari (Scuderia)90.0%+ 80.0%3939

South Africa January 2025 – models:

PosModelJan-25%/23DecFY241Suzuki Swift2,6285.7%+ 68.9%562Toyota Hilux2,5575.5%– 4.1%113VW Polo Vivo2,5495.5%+ 25.3%224Toyota Starlet2,1804.7%+ 47.4%885Ford Ranger1,8584.0%– 2.9%336Isuzu D-Max1,4133.0%+ 5.8%957Toyota Corolla Cross1,2262.6%– 26.1%448Hyundai Grand i101,2122.6%+ 54.8%779Chery Tiggo 4 Pro1,1222.4%+ 22.8%11910GWM Haval Jolion1,0992.4%+ 93.8%101311Toyota Starlet Cross1,0502.3%new142712Toyota Urban Cruiser8901.9%+ 51.1%172113Kia Sonet8311.8%+ 62.9%131614Toyota Vitz8251.8%+ 32.6%221915Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up8011.7%+ 38.6%271416Suzuki Fronx7741.7%+ 98.0%151717VW Polo7541.6%– 30.1%121018Nissan Magnite7441.6%– 11.7%201219Toyota Fortuner6521.4%– 33.1%61120Suzuki Ertiga6371.4%– 3.0%162021Toyota Hiace6011.3%– 46.8%231522Toyota Land Cruiser 705601.2%n/a30n/a23VW T-Cross5551.2%+ 10.6%312624Omoda C55171.1%new25n/a25Mahindra XUV3X04961.1%new18n/a26Renault Triber4841.0%+ 23.2%19n/a27Renault Kwid4771.0%+ 34.0%472528Chery Tiggo 7 Pro4130.9%+ 25.2%242829Suzuki Baleno4060.9%– 35.0%211830Renault Kiger3960.9%– 18.0%262431VW Polo Sedan3750.8%+ 8.4%50n/a32VW Tiguan3490.8%+ 35.8%41n/a33Suzuki Jimny3440.7%– 22.7%39n/a34Hyundai i203360.7%– 11.3%342935Suzuki Celerio3300.7%+ 10.0%42n/a36Hyundai Exter3290.7%new28n/a37GWM Haval H63210.7%– 23.8%33n/a38Toyota Rumion3200.7%– 14.0%293039Toyota Prado3110.7%n/a45n/a40Hyundai Venue3080.7%+ 66.5%32n/a41Nissan Navara2980.6%+ 0.7%362342Suzuki S-Presso2910.6%– 32.9%n/an/a43Ford Territory2910.6%newn/an/a44Jetour Dashing2900.6%new – –45VW Amarok2450.5%+ 10.4%35n/a46Suzuki Ciaz2400.5%n/an/an/a47Suzuki DZire2200.5%n/an/an/a48Suzuki Grand Vitara2090.5%– 21.1%n/an/a49Hyundai H100 Bakkie2070.4%+ 19.7%n/an/a50Ford Everest2020.4%– 38.6%37n/a

Source: NAAMSA