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:
| Pos | Manufacturer | Aug-26 | % | /25 | Jul | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Toyota | 13,814 | 23.9% | + 4.1% | 1 | 98,609 | 22.9% | + 5.0% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Suzuki | 6,505 | 11.2% | – 0.4% | 2 | 47,116 | 10.9% | – 0.3% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Volkswagen Group | 5,668 | 9.8% | + 2.7% | 3 | 42,432 | 9.9% | + 4.4% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Ford | 3,202 | 5.5% | + 7.9% | 5 | 23,158 | 5.4% | + 3.9% | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Hyundai | 3,034 | 5.2% | + 0.9% | 4 | 24,431 | 5.7% | + 0.7% | 4 | 4 |
| 6 | Chery | 2,763 | 4.8% | + 24.0% | 6 | 20,065 | 4.7% | + 24.8% | 7 | 8 |
| 7 | GWM (incl. Haval) | 2,594 | 4.5% | + 3.0% | 7 | 20,708 | 4.8% | + 23.3% | 6 | 6 |
| 8 | Isuzu | 2,531 | 4.4% | + 15.4% | 8 | 17,267 | 4.0% | + 2.5% | 8 | 7 |
| 9 | Jetour | 1,952 | 3.4% | + 152.5% | 9 | 14,855 | 3.4% | + 209.7% | 9 | 15 |
| 10 | Kia | 1,783 | 3.1% | + 15.6% | 10 | 12,953 | 3.0% | + 11.0% | 11 | 9 |
| 11 | Renault | 1,702 | 2.9% | + 23.9% | 13 | 11,090 | 2.6% | + 2.0% | 13 | 11 |
| 12 | Mahindra | 1,563 | 2.7% | + 17.0% | 12 | 13,164 | 3.1% | + 6.3% | 10 | 10 |
| 13 | Omoda and Jaecoo | 1,305 | 2.3% | + 8.6% | 11 | 11,118 | 2.6% | + 50.4% | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | BMW Group | 1,299 | 2.2% | + 6.2% | 14 | 10,503 | 2.4% | + 5.1% | 14 | 13 |
| 15 | Tata PC | 853 | 1.5% | new | 16 | 3,922 | 0.9% | new | 21 | – |
| 16 | Nissan | 786 | 1.4% | – 20.3% | 19 | 7,657 | 1.8% | – 23.6% | 15 | 12 |
| 17 | Stellantis | 627 | 1.1% | – 5.0% | 17 | 5,440 | 1.3% | + 21.0% | 16 | 16 |
| 18 | BYD | 609 | 1.1% | new | 15 | 4,311 | 1.0% | new | 17 | – |
| 19 | Mercedes | 567 | 1.0% | + 11.2% | 20 | 4,234 | 1.0% | + 4.1% | 19 | 17 |
| 20 | FAW Trucks | 546 | 0.9% | + 1.1% | 18 | 4,256 | 1.0% | + 17.8% | 18 | 18 |
| 21 | Foton | 402 | 0.7% | + 5.8% | 21 | 3,986 | 0.9% | + 94.8% | 20 | 19 |
| 22 | JAC | 304 | 0.5% | + 21.1% | 23 | 2,489 | 0.6% | + 39.6% | 23 | 22 |
| 23 | Salvador Caetano Group | 249 | 0.4% | new | 25 | 482 | 0.1% | new | 41 | – |
| 24 | MG | 248 | 0.4% | – 45.3% | 22 | 3,908 | 0.9% | + 762.7% | 22 | 24 |
| 25 | Mazda | 245 | 0.4% | + 18.4% | 31 | 1,718 | 0.4% | – 2.7% | 27 | 23 |
| 26 | Daimler Trucks | 241 | 0.4% | – 6.6% | 27 | 2,024 | 0.5% | – 10.4% | 24 | 20 |
| 27 | Volvo Group | 241 | 0.4% | + 43.5% | 28 | 1,494 | 0.3% | + 17.4% | 29 | 29 |
| 28 | Jaguar Land Rover | 228 | 0.4% | – 2.1% | 24 | 1,877 | 0.4% | – 6.3% | 25 | 21 |
| 29 | Scania | 211 | 0.4% | + 11.1% | 26 | 1,544 | 0.4% | + 1.8% | 28 | 27 |
| 30 | Changan | 205 | 0.4% | new | 32 | 1,189 | 0.3% | new | 33 | 41 |
| 31 | Honda | 196 | 0.3% | + 28.1% | 29 | 1,838 | 0.4% | + 28.9% | 26 | 25 |
| 32 | Man | 150 | 0.3% | + 11.1% | 33 | 1,107 | 0.3% | + 13.8% | 34 | 31 |
| 33 | LDV | 149 | 0.3% | new | 35 | 533 | 0.1% | new | 39 | – |
| 34 | UD Trucks | 142 | 0.2% | – 22.0% | 30 | 1,464 | 0.3% | + 2.4% | 30 | 28 |
| 35 | BAIC | 138 | 0.2% | – 27.0% | 36 | 1,424 | 0.3% | – 18.5% | 31 | 26 |
| 36 | Mitsubishi | 138 | 0.2% | – 17.9% | 34 | 1,286 | 0.3% | – 5.1% | 32 | 30 |
| 37 | Porsche | 125 | 0.2% | + 23.8% | 37 | 870 | 0.2% | + 11.1% | 35 | 33 |
| 38 | Volvo Cars | 116 | 0.2% | + 176.2% | 41 | 711 | 0.2% | + 25.4% | 38 | 34 |
| 39 | Sinotruk | 92 | 0.2% | + 170.6% | 42 | 723 | 0.2% | + 52.5% | 36 | 36 |
| 40 | Powerstar | 90 | 0.2% | – 14.3% | 38 | 716 | 0.2% | – 10.1% | 37 | 32 |
| 41 | Tata | 70 | 0.1% | – 2.8% | 39 | 527 | 0.1% | – 5.9% | 40 | 35 |
| 42 | Shacman | 68 | 0.1% | new | 40 | 301 | 0.1% | new | 43 | 43 |
| 43 | VECV South Africa | 51 | 0.1% | + 27.5% | 43 | 363 | 0.1% | + 77.9% | 42 | 40 |
| 44 | Iveco | 35 | 0.1% | + 12.9% | 46 | 253 | 0.1% | – 2.7% | 45 | 39 |
| 45 | Babcock | 30 | 0.1% | + 114.3% | 45 | 247 | 0.1% | + 79.0% | 46 | 42 |
| 46 | Subaru | 24 | 0.0% | – 53.8% | 44 | 277 | 0.1% | – 11.8% | 44 | 37 |
| 47 | Ferrari (Scuderia) | 4 | 0.0% | n/a | 47 | 40 | 0.0% | + 11.1% | 48 | 44 |
| 48 | Proton | 3 | 0.0% | – 89.7% | 48 | 46 | 0.0% | – 88.5% | 47 | 38 |
South Africa August 2026 – models:
| Pos | Model | Aug-26 | % | /25 | Jul | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Toyota Hilux | 3,881 | 6.7% | + 16.7% | 1 | 26,892 | 6.2% | + 17.1% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | VW Polo Vivo | 2,379 | 4.1% | + 2.8% | 2 | 17,842 | 4.1% | + 11.3% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Ford Ranger | 2,373 | 4.1% | + 14.9% | 4 | 16,908 | 3.9% | + 1.7% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Chery Tiggo 4 | 2,297 | 4.0% | + 71.5% | 3 | 15,729 | 3.7% | + 53.6% | 4 | 8 |
| 5 | Suzuki Swift | 2,152 | 3.7% | + 2.4% | 6 | 14,537 | 3.4% | – 8.7% | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Isuzu D-Max | 2,005 | 3.5% | + 12.8% | 5 | 14,027 | 3.3% | + 2.9% | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 1,489 | 2.6% | – 45.7% | 7 | 10,256 | 2.4% | – 28.1% | 8 | 5 |
| 8 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 1,461 | 2.5% | + 12.3% | 8 | 11,994 | 2.8% | + 6.1% | 7 | 7 |
| 9 | Toyota Starlet | 1,359 | 2.3% | + 17.2% | 9 | 9,292 | 2.2% | – 5.3% | 10 | 9 |
| 10 | Suzuki Ertiga | 1,317 | 2.3% | + 24.8% | 12 | 7,412 | 1.7% | + 16.1% | 13 | 19 |
| 11 | GWM Haval Jolion | 1,261 | 2.2% | + 12.3% | 11 | 9,981 | 2.3% | + 15.9% | 9 | 11 |
| 12 | Toyota Starlet Cross | 1,015 | 1.8% | + 34.4% | 18 | 6,545 | 1.5% | – 2.4% | 16 | 13 |
| 13 | Suzuki Fronx | 970 | 1.7% | – 19.8% | 10 | 9,029 | 2.1% | + 1.5% | 11 | 10 |
| 14 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 871 | 1.5% | + 37.4% | 13 | 5,855 | 1.4% | + 5.3% | 20 | 14 |
| 15 | Toyota Vitz | 871 | 1.5% | – 1.6% | 16 | 7,944 | 1.8% | + 53.2% | 12 | 16 |
| 16 | VW Polo | 837 | 1.4% | + 9.7% | 19 | 6,340 | 1.5% | + 0.2% | 17 | 17 |
| 17 | Omoda C5 | 823 | 1.4% | + 53.0% | 15 | 6,931 | 1.6% | + 48.8% | 14 | 21 |
| 18 | Jetour T2 | 802 | 1.4% | n/a | 14 | 6,669 | 1.5% | n/a | 15 | n/a |
| 19 | Toyota Rumion | 777 | 1.3% | + 0.6% | 25 | 5,566 | 1.3% | + 33.4% | 22 | 27 |
| 20 | Kia Sonet | 766 | 1.3% | + 1.9% | 17 | 5,860 | 1.4% | – 14.0% | 19 | 12 |
| 21 | Tata Tiago | 764 | 1.3% | new | 26 | 3,045 | 0.7% | new | 39 | – |
| 22 | Toyota Fortuner | 723 | 1.2% | – 7.7% | 20 | 5,537 | 1.3% | – 7.9% | 23 | 20 |
| 23 | Mahindra XUV3X0 | 711 | 1.2% | + 31.4% | 24 | 5,807 | 1.3% | + 28.8% | 21 | 23 |
| 24 | Toyota Hiace | 631 | 1.1% | + 1.6% | 21 | 5,001 | 1.2% | + 1.1% | 25 | 22 |
| 25 | Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up | 612 | 1.1% | – 9.3% | 23 | 5,953 | 1.4% | – 8.9% | 18 | 18 |
| 26 | GWM P-Series | 588 | 1.0% | + 5.6% | 29 | 4,771 | 1.1% | + 59.1% | 26 | 29 |
| 27 | VW T-Cross | 581 | 1.0% | – 3.5% | 22 | 4,236 | 1.0% | – 4.3% | 27 | 24 |
| 28 | Renault Triber | 549 | 0.9% | + 29.5% | 27 | 4,027 | 0.9% | + 57.1% | 28 | 37 |
| 29 | Hyundai i20 | 509 | 0.9% | + 62.1% | 28 | 3,917 | 0.9% | + 49.0% | 29 | 38 |
| 30 | Hyundai Exter | 503 | 0.9% | + 9.8% | 37 | 3,131 | 0.7% | – 5.7% | 37 | 32 |
| 31 | Nissan Magnite | 484 | 0.8% | – 25.8% | 38 | 5,107 | 1.2% | – 21.2% | 24 | 15 |
| 32 | Toyota Land Cruiser 70 | 467 | 0.8% | – 7.5% | 30 | 3,759 | 0.9% | – 9.3% | 30 | 26 |
| 33 | Ford Territory | 461 | 0.8% | + 75.3% | 33 | 3,187 | 0.7% | + 49.5% | 35 | 39 |
| 34 | Suzuki Baleno | 456 | 0.8% | – 8.8% | 32 | 3,222 | 0.7% | – 3.0% | 33 | 28 |
| 35 | Jetour Dashing | 454 | 0.8% | – 8.3% | 31 | 3,158 | 0.7% | + 10.3% | 36 | 34 |
| 36 | Kia Seltos | 445 | 0.8% | n/a | 35 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 37 | Renault Kwid | 430 | 0.7% | – 23.5% | 36 | 3,272 | 0.8% | – 20.5% | 32 | 25 |
| 38 | Renault Kiger | 406 | 0.7% | + 24.2% | 45 | 2,953 | 0.7% | – 9.8% | 40 | 33 |
| 39 | Jetour T1 | 363 | 0.6% | n/a | 34 | 3,285 | 0.8% | n/a | 31 | n/a |
| 40 | VW Amarok | 351 | 0.6% | – 2.2% | 42 | 3,204 | 0.7% | + 31.3% | 34 | 36 |
| 41 | Jetour X70 Plus | 333 | 0.6% | + 19.8% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 42 | Suzuki S-Presso | 316 | 0.5% | – 27.0% | 50 | 2,351 | 0.5% | + 0.2% | n/a | 40 |
| 43 | GWM Haval H6 | 315 | 0.5% | – 38.4% | 41 | 3,083 | 0.7% | + 5.8% | 38 | 31 |
| 44 | Suzuki Across | 313 | 0.5% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 45 | Suzuki DZire | 310 | 0.5% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 46 | Jaecoo J5 | 308 | 0.5% | new | 39 | n/a | n/a | new | n/a | n/a |
| 47 | Nissan Navara | 293 | 0.5% | – 12.0% | n/a | 2,258 | 0.5% | – 32.7% | n/a | 30 |
| 48 | Chery Tiggo 7 | 285 | 0.5% | n/a | 40 | 2,818 | 0.7% | – 2.5% | n/a | 35 |
| 49 | Citroen C3 | 276 | 0.5% | – 21.4% | 43 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 50 | Ford Everest | 270 | 0.5% | – 16.4% | 47 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Source: NAAMSA
