The Dolphin Surf is BYD’s best-seller in South Africa in March.

18th straight month of year-on-year gains for the South African new vehicle market, with March volumes up a splendid 17.3% to 58,060. For the second consecutive month, this is a new record, eclipsing the previous March best of 56,110 hit in March 2012. The year-to-date tally is now up 12.4% to 161,978 units. In contrast exports drop -5.3% to 37,388 and are down -11.6% over Q1 to 86,281.

Toyota (+14.3%) scores a 22.9% share, similar to the 23.1% it holds year-to-date. The VW Group (+13.5%) is back above Suzuki (-4.5%) for the first time this year. Isuzu (+27.3%) surges three spots on February to #4, overtaking Hyundai (+5%), Ford (-2.7%) and GWM (+34.4%). Chery (+25.7%) is also in excellent shape at #8 while Jetour (+238%) manages a second ever Top 10 finish after last December and breaks its volume record at 1,768. BYD (#21) and Tata Passenger Cars (#22) now report sales. BYD’s best-sellers are the Dolphin Surf (239 sales) and Shark (94).

Model-wise, the Toyota Hilux (+40.9%) surges ahead to 7.1% share, its highest since December 2024, and cements its YTD dominance at 6.1% of the market, the only nameplate above 4%. The Isuzu D-Max (+33.7%) climbs up three ranks on February to #2, its best ranking since exactly a year ago in March 2025 when it was also #2. The VW Polo Vivo (+32.6%) is another great performer at #3 whereas the Ford Ranger (-4.8%) is in trouble at #4. The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (+71.3%) remains the best-selling Chinese vehicle in the country.

Previous month: South Africa February 2026: Chinese shine in record market

One year ago: South Africa March 2025: Sales up 12.5%, Mahindra breaks records

Full March 2026 Top 46 All manufacturers and Top 50 models below.

South Africa March 2026 – manufacturers:

PosManufacturerMar-26%/25Feb2026%/25PosFY251Toyota13,32322.9%+ 14.3%137,38123.1%+ 5.1%112Volkswagen Group5,5749.6%+ 13.5%315,2439.4%– 3.8%333Suzuki5,0478.7%– 4.5%218,01911.1%+ 1.6%224Isuzu3,5136.1%+ 27.3%77,4904.6%+ 10.3%775Hyundai3,2585.6%+ 5.0%49,4425.8%+ 5.7%446Ford2,8284.9%– 2.7%58,4345.2%+ 4.8%557GWM (incl. Haval)2,7774.8%+ 34.4%67,9124.9%+ 42.9%668Chery2,3904.1%+ 25.7%86,9604.3%+ 21.3%889Mahindra2,2803.9%+ 1.2%95,9473.7%+ 11.7%91010Jetour1,7683.0%+ 238.0%114,9913.1%+ 249.0%111511Kia1,6462.8%+ 17.4%105,2803.3%+ 22.2%10912BMW Group1,5882.7%+ 18.8%143,9192.4%+ 3.8%141313Nissan1,4872.6%– 35.4%153,8242.4%– 22.9%151214Omoda and Jaecoo1,4332.5%+ 77.8%134,1432.6%+ 78.5%131415Renault1,4072.4%+ 0.4%124,2462.6%– 0.7%121116Stellantis7141.2%+ 36.0%161,9111.2%+ 35.5%161617MG6891.2%new171,7901.1%new172418FAW Trucks6211.1%+ 43.4%191,4730.9%+ 24.7%201819Foton6041.0%+ 107.6%201,5290.9%+ 183.7%191920Mercedes5951.0%+ 5.7%181,6141.0%+ 10.9%181721BYD5891.0%new –5890.4%new26 –22Tata PC5150.9%new –5150.3%new30 –23Honda3480.6%+ 92.3%239300.6%+ 46.2%212524Jaguar Land Rover3190.5%+ 3.2%248020.5%– 0.4%242125JAC3140.5%+ 24.1%219000.6%+ 35.5%222226Daimler Trucks2730.5%– 22.9%228050.5%– 4.8%232027Volvo Group2510.4%+ 70.7%314390.3%+ 7.9%312928Mitsubishi2410.4%+ 22.3%275280.3%– 5.0%293029UD Trucks2270.4%+ 9.1%265430.3%+ 9.0%282830Mazda2090.4%– 9.1%256660.4%– 8.8%252331BAIC1770.3%+ 2.9%285510.3%– 17.3%272632Scania1550.3%– 7.7%293870.2%– 16.1%322733Man1310.2%– 10.9%343170.2%– 17.0%343134Changan1180.2%new303210.2%new334135Volvo Cars1010.2%– 33.1%362500.2%– 18.3%373436Porsche920.2%– 8.9%322870.2%+ 2.5%353337Sinotruk920.2%+ 46.0%332710.2%+ 64.2%363638Powerstar850.1%– 11.5%352480.2%– 14.5%383239Babcock640.1%+ 77.8%401070.1%+ 50.7%424240Subaru480.1%+ 26.3%42870.1%– 37.9%433741VECV South Africa460.1%+ 84.0%381390.1%+ 124.2%394042Tata410.1%– 39.7%391340.1%– 36.5%403543Shacman400.1%n/a41720.0%n/a444344Iveco260.0%– 42.2%371210.1%– 5.5%413945Proton100.0%– 85.9%43200.0%– 87.5%453846Ferrari (Scuderia)60.0%+ 500.0%44110.0%+ 10.0%4644

South Africa March 2026 – models:

PosModelMar-26%/25Feb2026%/25PosFY251Toyota Hilux4,1187.1%+ 40.9%19,9556.1%+ 22.0%112Isuzu D-Max3,0085.2%+ 33.7%56,2903.9%+ 12.6%363VW Polo Vivo2,2583.9%+ 32.6%46,3443.9%– 1.5%224Ford Ranger2,0743.6%– 4.8%36,2363.8%+ 0.5%435Chery Tiggo 4 Pro1,8883.3%+ 71.3%65,3223.3%+ 57.9%686Toyota Corolla Cross1,5362.6%– 2.2%123,4312.1%– 18.9%1257Hyundai Grand i101,4102.4%– 6.3%74,1522.6%+ 1.3%778Suzuki Swift1,4002.4%– 12.9%25,9373.7%– 9.9%549GWM Haval Jolion1,2622.2%+ 14.5%113,5422.2%+ 11.2%101110Suzuki Fronx1,1792.0%+ 12.1%103,4922.2%+ 18.4%111011Toyota Starlet1,1742.0%+ 9.2%83,7872.3%– 16.5%8912Nissan Magnite1,0781.9%– 25.3%182,7101.7%– 16.4%161513Mahindra XUV3X01,0631.8%+ 37.2%192,5811.6%+ 33.6%172314Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up1,0371.8%– 14.7%132,7641.7%– 0.5%151815Toyota Fortuner1,0001.7%+ 26.1%222,1321.3%+ 2.5%222016Kia Sonet9751.7%+ 18.5%142,8861.8%+ 14.0%131217Toyota Vitz9311.6%+ 189.1%93,6442.2%+ 114.6%91618Omoda C58451.5%+ 51.2%172,5761.6%+ 58.2%182119VW Polo8371.4%– 10.2%202,3531.5%– 6.6%191720Toyota Urban Cruiser8161.4%+ 15.6%212,1311.3%– 13.8%231421GWM P-Series7851.4%+ 95.3%271,8051.1%+ 116.4%262922Toyota Starlet Cross7791.3%– 18.6%152,8051.7%– 6.8%141323Toyota Hiace7711.3%+ 25.0%242,0201.2%+ 4.7%242224Jetour T26461.1%n/a251,9301.2%n/a25n/a25Renault Kiger5090.9%+ 40.2%341,2890.8%+ 11.1%333326Toyota Rumion5020.9%+ 25.8%232,2251.4%+ 85.3%202727Hyundai i204940.9%+ 59.9%291,5511.0%+ 61.2%283828VW Amarok4660.8%+ 69.5%361,1880.7%+ 46.7%373629Toyota Prado4580.8%– 7.5%281,4070.9%+ 19.1%29n/a30Suzuki S-Presso4570.8%+ 111.6%411,1390.7%+ 47.2%384031VW T-Cross4530.8%– 3.2%431,3250.8%– 10.8%322432Renault Triber4390.8%+ 25.1%261,6411.0%+ 51.4%273733Jetour T14370.8%n/a321,3260.8%n/a31n/a34Hyundai Exter4370.8%+ 3.8%301,2200.8%+ 3.6%353235GWM Haval H64340.7%+ 43.2%381,2320.8%+ 37.2%343136Tata Tiago4260.7%new –4260.3%newn/a –37Jetour Dashing4140.7%+ 36.2%371,0930.7%+ 29.2%403438Renault Kwid4110.7%– 28.1%421,1320.7%– 37.1%392539Toyota Land Cruiser 704060.7%– 19.9%331,3750.8%– 17.1%302640VW Polo Sedan4050.7%– 4.3%50n/an/an/an/an/a41Citroen C33890.7%n/an/an/an/an/an/an/a42BMW X33880.7%+ 38.1%n/an/an/an/an/an/a43Nissan Navara3800.7%– 54.5%391,0680.7%– 30.9%423044Suzuki Baleno3630.6%– 28.0%351,2150.8%– 4.3%362845Suzuki Ertiga3510.6%– 52.9%162,1451.3%+ 6.7%211946Ford Territory3420.6%+ 50.7%311,0850.7%+ 32.0%413947Jaecoo J53190.5%n/an/an/an/an/an/an/a48Ford Everest3000.5%– 12.5%44n/an/an/an/an/a49VW Tiguan2930.5%n/an/an/an/an/an/an/a50Chery Tiggo 7 Pro2900.5%– 31.0%401,0500.6%– 13.7%4335

Source: NAAMSA