The top car brands in South Africa – According to dealerships

The National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) has published the results of its 2025 Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey, highlighting which car brands are favoured by local dealerships.

The survey found that BMW and Suzuki are favoured in the passenger segment, while Hino is the preferred commercial brand for dealerships.

The DSI survey is in its 29th year and serves as a measuring stick for the South African automotive retail sector.

According to NADA, the 2025 DSI survey reached 87% of South Africa’s franchised Passenger and Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) dealerships, and gathered 1,397 responses in the Passenger/LCV segment and 191 responses in the Commercial segment.

It was conducted between 22 April and 23 May 2025, and 36 brands were evaluated through “comprehensive, self-completion online questionnaires tailored to Dealer Principals.”

Results were then benchmarked against industry averages across three indices: Dealer Friendly (20%), Investor Friendly (40%), and Customer Friendly (40%).

“The DSI Survey is more than a scorecard. It’s a catalyst for open, honest dialogue between dealers and manufacturers,” said Brandon Cohen, Chairperson of NADA.

“At a time when agility and mutual support are more important than ever, the insights from this year’s study offer a valuable roadmap for building stronger partnerships and a more resilient retail ecosystem.”

The results were as follows:

Passenger Segment

• Platinum Status – BMW, Suzuki
• Gold Status – Toyota, Hyundai, Jetour, Lexus, Kia, Mini, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Volvo, GWM, Renault
• Silver Status – Mahindra, Ford, Chery, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Omoda | Jaecoo
• Bronze Status – Isuzu, Audi, Subaru, Mazda
• Most improved – GWM

Commercial segment

• Platinum Status – Hino
• Gold Status – Mercedes-Benz Trucks, MAN, UD Trucks
• Silver Status – FUSO
• Bronze Status – Isuzu Trucks, FAW
• Most improved – Tata Commercial

“There’s no doubt that AI is transforming the way we operate – from backend systems to customer-facing solutions,” said Cohen.

“But at the heart of our industry, people still buy from people.”

“The OEMs and dealer networks that succeed will be those who embrace innovation while continuing to build authentic human relationships.”