This discontinued car is on top of hijackers’ shopping lists in South Africa

The Nissan NP200 is one of the most hijacked vehicles in South Africa despite the fact that it is no longer on sale.

The compact bakkie was officially discontinued in April 2024, yet it was among the most stolen vehicles in the country in the first half of this year.

Meeting demand by any means

The latest insights from Fidelity Services Group revealed that the Nissan NP200 was one of the top 13 most hijacked vehicles in South Africa in the first six months of 2024.

While the Nissan has featured on similar lists in the past, it is unusual this time around as the bakkie is no longer built and sold in South Africa.

Vehicles typically become much less popular once they’ve been discontinued as would-be buyers are concerned about the availability of parts in the event something breaks, and this mentality applies to stolen models as well.

The “business” of stolen cars is largely driven by supply and demand, according to Fidelity, which is why hijackers are less likely to target cancelled models that people are no longer interested in.

One such example is the Ford Fiesta, which used to be one of the most popular (and stolen) cars in South Africa but has since fallen out of the nation’s most hijacked lists since the Blue Oval shut down the hatchback’s production worldwide.

This is why it is unusual to see the NP200 still on the chart, as it means people are still trying to get their hands on one despite the risks associated with out-lived models.

It’s not hard to imagine why, however, as the bakkie was incredibly successful prior to its cancellation.

The NP200 was South Africa’s last remaining compact pickups, catering to a vital niche as an affordable light commercial vehicle (LCVs) for small businesses and independent contractors.

At its peak, the Nissan was drawing in similar sales figures to fan-favourite bakkies like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max despite serving an entirely different segment

The NP200’s discontinuation means that there are currently no compact bakkies on the market in South Africa, which is likely why it is still a popular target for hijackers.

The demand for affordable LCVs has not dissipated due to the lack of options in the showroom, and it appears that criminals are more than happy to cater to this market by stealing existing models to resell.

Another possibility is that the Nissan is being thieved to be stripped for parts, as there is a widespread black market for components for popular vehicles, not just in South Africa but across the continent.