
2024 was a tough year for well-established automakers while it was largely the opposite for up-and-coming brands from China, a fact that was reflected in their share price performance.
If you had, say, invested R1,000 in Germany’s VW on 17 January 2025, the same amount would now be worth R769, a noticeable decline of 23%.
However, if you had put it into buying shares from China’s Great Wall Motors (GWM), you’d have R1,108 today.
These figures underscore a seismic shift that took place in the global automotive landscape over the past few years as vehicles from Asia continue to usurp market share from their long-established rivals.
The biggest winners and losers
Looking at South Africa’s top automakers, Renault saw the most growth in 2024 in terms of its share price.
The value of the French marque’s shares grew by an astounding 43% to €48.37 (R931) as of 17 January 2025 owing to a clever strategy rethink.
Investing.com writes that Renault’s shares surged after it announced a 1.3% increase in annual sales in comparison to 2023 thanks in large part to new model introductions that cater to more price-conscious buyers in Europe and Latin America.
Increasing uptake in its hybrid and electric offerings further bolstered investor confidence in the Diamond badge.
Likewise, Hyundai shares gained an impressive 28% over the course of the year similarly due to rising sales, the public listing of its Indian division, and a strategic partnership with global semiconductor corporation Nvidia for mobility innovation.
Isuzu, GWM, and Suzuki all posted increases, too, ranging from anywhere between 2% and 17%.
At the other end of the spectrum, Nissan saw the biggest loss with 26% of its share value wiped out last year.
The ailing Japanese automaker has struggled to maintain market share in key regions recently as its new products fail to capture the hearts of audiences amid fierce competition from Chinese brands and high window stickers, forcing it to cut thousands of jobs in the process.
It has reached the point where Honda is exploring a tie-up with Nissan to keep the latter above water.
Meanwhile, VW’s shares ended the year 23% down from where they stood in January 2024 largely as a result of labour disputes and cost-cutting on its home turf, weak demand in China, and potential tariffs after Donald Trump’s election, according to Reuters.
Ford’s shares recorded a decline of 11% due to supply snarls and high operational costs, whereas Toyota’s fell by 7% following weaker sales and production issues in two crucial markets – Japan and the U.S.
The table below details what a R1,000 investment in South Africa’s top automaker would be worth if you purchased shares in mid-January 2024.
It’s worth noting that Chery isn’t a publicly traded company at the moment and was therefore not included.
Brand | Share price Jan 2025 | Change over 2024 | Value of R1,000 investment Jan 2025 |
---|---|---|---|
Toyota | US$181.48 | -7% | R935 |
VW | US$9.70 | -23% | R769 |
Suzuki | US$44.45 | +2% | R1,017 |
Ford | US$10.01 | -11% | R888 |
Hyundai | US$52.60 | +28% | R1,282 |
Isuzu | US$14.82 | +17% | R1,165 |
Nissan | JP¥420 | -26% | R745 |
GWM | CN¥25.27 | +11% | R1,108 |
Renault | €48.37 | +43% | R1,433 |
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