The Toyota Hilux remains the most popular vehicle in South Africa.

The South African new vehicle market registers a stunning 22nd consecutive month of year-on-year gains in August at +11.4% to 57,898. This is also the 7th straight double-digit uptick and the largest August volume since at least 17 years and possibly ever. The year-to-date tally is now up 12.5% to 430,693, the best result at this stage of the year since 2013 (436,005). Passenger Vehicles are up 11.6% to 41,216 and light commercials grow 11% to 13,727. Unfortunately exports are down a ghastly -11.9% to 35,091 for the month and -8.8% to 249,884 year-to-date.

Disappointingly, the Top 5 manufacturers all trail the market with single-digit gains. Ford (+7.9%) fares best above Toyota (+4.1%), the VW Group (+2.7%) and Hyundai (+0.9%) whereas Suzuki (-0.4%) is in negative. It’s another story for Chinese carmakers wth Jetour up 152.5% and Chery up 24%. Renault (+23.9%) and Mahindra (+17%) also stand out.

Looking at the models ranking, the Toyota Hilux (+16.7%) cements its domination at 6.7% share vs. 4.1% for the #2, the VW Polo Vivo (+2.8%). The Ford Ranger (+14.9%) is back up to #3, dislodging the Chery Tiggo 4 (+71.5%) with the Suzuki Swift (+2.4%) rounding out the Top 5. The Suzuki Ertiga (+24.8%) returns to the Top 10 at #10 and the Toyota Starlet (+17.2%) also beats the market at #9. The Isuzu D-Max (+12.8%) and Hyundai Grand i10 (+12.3%) are also strong but the Toyota Corolla Cross (-45.7%) craters at #7. Excellent performances by the Hyundai i20 (+62.1%), Omoda C5 (+53%) and Mahindra XUV3X0 (+31.4%).

Previous month: South Africa July 2026: Toyota (+11.4%), Chery (+25.4%), Jetour (+183.7%) shine

One year ago: South Africa August 2025: 6th month of double-digit lifts in a row (+18.7%)

Full August 2026 Top 48 All manufacturers and Top 50 models below.

South Africa August 2026 – manufacturers:

PosManufacturerAug-26%/25Jul2026%/25PosFY251Toyota13,81423.9%+ 4.1%198,60922.9%+ 5.0%112Suzuki6,50511.2%– 0.4%247,11610.9%– 0.3%223Volkswagen Group5,6689.8%+ 2.7%342,4329.9%+ 4.4%334Ford3,2025.5%+ 7.9%523,1585.4%+ 3.9%555Hyundai3,0345.2%+ 0.9%424,4315.7%+ 0.7%446Chery2,7634.8%+ 24.0%620,0654.7%+ 24.8%787GWM (incl. Haval)2,5944.5%+ 3.0%720,7084.8%+ 23.3%668Isuzu2,5314.4%+ 15.4%817,2674.0%+ 2.5%879Jetour1,9523.4%+ 152.5%914,8553.4%+ 209.7%91510Kia1,7833.1%+ 15.6%1012,9533.0%+ 11.0%11911Renault1,7022.9%+ 23.9%1311,0902.6%+ 2.0%131112Mahindra1,5632.7%+ 17.0%1213,1643.1%+ 6.3%101013Omoda and Jaecoo1,3052.3%+ 8.6%1111,1182.6%+ 50.4%121414BMW Group1,2992.2%+ 6.2%1410,5032.4%+ 5.1%141315Tata PC8531.5%new163,9220.9%new21 –16Nissan7861.4%– 20.3%197,6571.8%– 23.6%151217Stellantis6271.1%– 5.0%175,4401.3%+ 21.0%161618BYD6091.1%new154,3111.0%new17 –19Mercedes5671.0%+ 11.2%204,2341.0%+ 4.1%191720FAW Trucks5460.9%+ 1.1%184,2561.0%+ 17.8%181821Foton4020.7%+ 5.8%213,9860.9%+ 94.8%201922JAC3040.5%+ 21.1%232,4890.6%+ 39.6%232223Salvador Caetano Group2490.4%new254820.1%new41 –24MG2480.4%– 45.3%223,9080.9%+ 762.7%222425Mazda2450.4%+ 18.4%311,7180.4%– 2.7%272326Daimler Trucks2410.4%– 6.6%272,0240.5%– 10.4%242027Volvo Group2410.4%+ 43.5%281,4940.3%+ 17.4%292928Jaguar Land Rover2280.4%– 2.1%241,8770.4%– 6.3%252129Scania2110.4%+ 11.1%261,5440.4%+ 1.8%282730Changan2050.4%new321,1890.3%new334131Honda1960.3%+ 28.1%291,8380.4%+ 28.9%262532Man1500.3%+ 11.1%331,1070.3%+ 13.8%343133LDV1490.3%new355330.1%new39 –34UD Trucks1420.2%– 22.0%301,4640.3%+ 2.4%302835BAIC1380.2%– 27.0%361,4240.3%– 18.5%312636Mitsubishi1380.2%– 17.9%341,2860.3%– 5.1%323037Porsche1250.2%+ 23.8%378700.2%+ 11.1%353338Volvo Cars1160.2%+ 176.2%417110.2%+ 25.4%383439Sinotruk920.2%+ 170.6%427230.2%+ 52.5%363640Powerstar900.2%– 14.3%387160.2%– 10.1%373241Tata700.1%– 2.8%395270.1%– 5.9%403542Shacman680.1%new403010.1%new434343VECV South Africa510.1%+ 27.5%433630.1%+ 77.9%424044Iveco350.1%+ 12.9%462530.1%– 2.7%453945Babcock300.1%+ 114.3%452470.1%+ 79.0%464246Subaru240.0%– 53.8%442770.1%– 11.8%443747Ferrari (Scuderia)40.0%n/a47400.0%+ 11.1%484448Proton30.0%– 89.7%48460.0%– 88.5%4738

South Africa August 2026 – models:

PosModelAug-26%/25Jul2026%/25PosFY251Toyota Hilux3,8816.7%+ 16.7%126,8926.2%+ 17.1%112VW Polo Vivo2,3794.1%+ 2.8%217,8424.1%+ 11.3%223Ford Ranger2,3734.1%+ 14.9%416,9083.9%+ 1.7%334Chery Tiggo 42,2974.0%+ 71.5%315,7293.7%+ 53.6%485Suzuki Swift2,1523.7%+ 2.4%614,5373.4%– 8.7%546Isuzu D-Max2,0053.5%+ 12.8%514,0273.3%+ 2.9%667Toyota Corolla Cross1,4892.6%– 45.7%710,2562.4%– 28.1%858Hyundai Grand i101,4612.5%+ 12.3%811,9942.8%+ 6.1%779Toyota Starlet1,3592.3%+ 17.2%99,2922.2%– 5.3%10910Suzuki Ertiga1,3172.3%+ 24.8%127,4121.7%+ 16.1%131911GWM Haval Jolion1,2612.2%+ 12.3%119,9812.3%+ 15.9%91112Toyota Starlet Cross1,0151.8%+ 34.4%186,5451.5%– 2.4%161313Suzuki Fronx9701.7%– 19.8%109,0292.1%+ 1.5%111014Toyota Urban Cruiser8711.5%+ 37.4%135,8551.4%+ 5.3%201415Toyota Vitz8711.5%– 1.6%167,9441.8%+ 53.2%121616VW Polo8371.4%+ 9.7%196,3401.5%+ 0.2%171717Omoda C58231.4%+ 53.0%156,9311.6%+ 48.8%142118Jetour T28021.4%n/a146,6691.5%n/a15n/a19Toyota Rumion7771.3%+ 0.6%255,5661.3%+ 33.4%222720Kia Sonet7661.3%+ 1.9%175,8601.4%– 14.0%191221Tata Tiago7641.3%new263,0450.7%new39 –22Toyota Fortuner7231.2%– 7.7%205,5371.3%– 7.9%232023Mahindra XUV3X07111.2%+ 31.4%245,8071.3%+ 28.8%212324Toyota Hiace6311.1%+ 1.6%215,0011.2%+ 1.1%252225Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up6121.1%– 9.3%235,9531.4%– 8.9%181826GWM P-Series5881.0%+ 5.6%294,7711.1%+ 59.1%262927VW T-Cross5811.0%– 3.5%224,2361.0%– 4.3%272428Renault Triber5490.9%+ 29.5%274,0270.9%+ 57.1%283729Hyundai i205090.9%+ 62.1%283,9170.9%+ 49.0%293830Hyundai Exter5030.9%+ 9.8%373,1310.7%– 5.7%373231Nissan Magnite4840.8%– 25.8%385,1071.2%– 21.2%241532Toyota Land Cruiser 704670.8%– 7.5%303,7590.9%– 9.3%302633Ford Territory4610.8%+ 75.3%333,1870.7%+ 49.5%353934Suzuki Baleno4560.8%– 8.8%323,2220.7%– 3.0%332835Jetour Dashing4540.8%– 8.3%313,1580.7%+ 10.3%363436Kia Seltos4450.8%n/a35n/an/an/an/an/a37Renault Kwid4300.7%– 23.5%363,2720.8%– 20.5%322538Renault Kiger4060.7%+ 24.2%452,9530.7%– 9.8%403339Jetour T13630.6%n/a343,2850.8%n/a31n/a40VW Amarok3510.6%– 2.2%423,2040.7%+ 31.3%343641Jetour X70 Plus3330.6%+ 19.8%n/an/an/an/an/an/a42Suzuki S-Presso3160.5%– 27.0%502,3510.5%+ 0.2%n/a4043GWM Haval H63150.5%– 38.4%413,0830.7%+ 5.8%383144Suzuki Across3130.5%n/an/an/an/an/an/an/a45Suzuki DZire3100.5%n/an/an/an/an/an/an/a46Jaecoo J53080.5%new39n/an/anewn/an/a47Nissan Navara2930.5%– 12.0%n/a2,2580.5%– 32.7%n/a3048Chery Tiggo 72850.5%n/a402,8180.7%– 2.5%n/a3549Citroen C32760.5%– 21.4%43n/an/an/an/an/a50Ford Everest2700.5%– 16.4%47n/an/an/an/an/a

Source: NAAMSA