The brands behind South Africa’s new car sales resurgence

New car sales grew in 2025, reaching pre-pandemic sales figures and restoring the integrity of the local market.

Improvements and increased faith in the South African economy are two factors that contributed to higher vehicle sales last year.

A better economic outlook, lowered interest rates, and improved inflation targets coincided with a stronger local appetite for new vehicle purchases.

The improvements in the local economy also ensured improved liquidity and better interest rates across the board.

Naamsa recorded a pent-up need for newer vehicles, as a result of delayed purchases, which were met by a budget-friendly market that offered motorists a variety of vehicle options that met most budgets.

This can be seen when looking at the brands that performed well during 2025, the ones that helped fuel last year’s resurgence in local sales figures.

Suzuki was the standout brand, as the second-placed automaker totally outdid itself last year.

By the end of 2024, it was the third-best-selling vehicle brand in South Africa, behind the evergreen Toyota and Volkswagen.

Last year, it managed to consistently outsell VW and all but one brand, Toyota, to clinch its title as South Africa’s second-favourite brand.

New entries and growing brands from China and India offered buyers a selection than ever, which cemented their increasing popularity in 2025.

Among these are Omoda and Jaecoo, as well as Jetour, which saw significant growth.

At the end of the day, the big names and established brands will always have their part to play with regard to new car sales.

Giants like Toyota, VW, and even Hyundai ensure that sales numbers remain high, and push the automarket’s figures up significantly.

The major players

Top brands recorded top performances, and the nation’s favourite brands continued to dominate the sales figures.

Toyota sold a total of 148,122 vehicles, which makes up nearly 25% of the models sold in South Africa last year, including commercial vehicles.

Passenger vehicles saw the biggest growth last year, with sales figures growing by a little over 20% in comparison to the numbers recorded in 2024.

The country’s top five brands, Toyota, Suzuki, VW, Hyundai, and Ford, sold a combined 354,386 vehicles, accounting for just under 60% of all vehicle sales.

These carmakers played their part in the sales resurgence with their quality offerings that have been tailored for the South African market over the decades they have been in the country.

Lending these brands a hand, however, are the brands that grew their sales by offering South African motorists something different, and exciting at attainable prices.

The car brands that offer New Energy Vehicle (NEV) options saw the greatest increase in their sales figures last year.

GWM’s sales rose gradually throughout the year, as it finished firmly in the top ten brands in terms of 2025 sales figures.

Alongside GWM is Chery, which also saw vehicles leave their showroom floors at an increased rate last year, allowing the brand to shatter its own monthly sales records.

New kids on the block, Jetour, as well as Omoda and Jaecoo, with their strong line-up of NEV offerings, saw the greatest growth throughout the year, helping the local new vehicle sales market end the year on a high note.

Naamsa’s data on the year’s sales indicate a continuous shift toward NEVs, which saw
year-to-date sales of these vehicles surpass 2024’s total sales by November 2025.

An influx of affordable imports also supported this growth, as significant contributions from both Chinese and Indian brands, combined with several financial factors, boosted new car sales performances last year.