Suzuki Swift and Jetour star in record setting January vehicle sales

South Africa’s new vehicle sales continue a remarkable streak, marking the 16th consecutive month without a decline. January sales reached 50,073 units, a 7.5% increase compared to the 46,594 vehicles sold during the same period last year, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa).

Strong Performance Across the Board

Suzuki has emerged as a key driver of this growth, regaining its position as the second best-selling brand with 6,410 units sold. This follows a December where Volkswagen briefly overtook Suzuki in sales. Toyota continues to lead the market, moving 11,786 units in January.

Top Brands in January

Volkswagen secured third place with 4,774 units sold, including sales from Audi. Hyundai and Ford maintained their positions in fourth and fifth, respectively, with 3,048 and 2,678 units moved. Great Wall Motors (GWM) and Chery also held steady in sixth and seventh, shifting 2,521 and 2,258 vehicles. Kia climbed to eighth place with 1,888 units, while Mahindra returned to the top 10, selling 1,671 vehicles. Isuzu completed the top 10 with 1,606 units.

Did You Know? The Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Volkswagen Polo Vivo were the top three locally produced vehicles sold in January.

Best-Selling Models

The Toyota Hilux led the best-selling models with 2,475 units, followed by the Ford Ranger (2,071) and the Volkswagen Polo Vivo (2,060). The Suzuki Swift was the best-selling imported vehicle, reaching 2,029 units, and was the only other model to surpass the 2,000-unit mark. The Chery Tiggo 4 rounded out the top five with 1,625 units sold.

Segment Performance

Passenger vehicle sales increased by 7.1% year-on-year, reaching 37,190 units. Light commercial vehicle sales saw an even more significant rise of 11.0%, totaling 10,966 units. Medium-duty commercial vehicle sales experienced a slight decrease of 5.9% to 542 units, while heavy-duty commercial vehicle sales fell by 4.3% to 1,345 units. Exports remained relatively stable, increasing by 0.6% to 24,568 units.

Expert Insight: The sustained growth in new vehicle sales, now spanning 16 months, suggests a resilient consumer demand and potentially improving economic conditions within the South African automotive market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the overall increase in new vehicle sales in January?

New vehicle sales in January rose by 7.5% compared to the same period last year, reaching a total of 50,073 units.

Which brand regained its second-place position in January?

Suzuki regained its second-place position in the market with 6,410 units sold, after briefly falling to third in December.

What was the best-selling imported vehicle in January?

The Suzuki Swift was the best-selling imported vehicle in January, with 2,029 units sold.

Looking ahead, continued positive sales figures could encourage further investment in the South African automotive sector. However, fluctuations in economic conditions and global supply chains could potentially impact future performance. It remains to be seen whether this upward trend will continue throughout the year.