Warning for Toyota owners, a Ford dealer goes Chinese, and a new crossover coming to South Africa

These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s transport industry this week.

Warning for Toyota and Lexus owners in South Africa

Motorists are advised to stay up to date with their car insurance policy changes to ensure that their vehicle is still covered in the event they need to claim.

Insurers often amend their policies to reflect market and socio-economic trends, which includes hijackings targeted at specific vehicle brands and models.

Local insurer Hollard identified a number of Toyota and Lexus cars in a so-called “hit list,” flagging them as a high-risk target for hijackers that may introduce new conditions for them to be covered.

South African Ford dealer of 28 years goes Chinese

A vehicle dealer in the Eastern Cape has parted ways with Ford after 28 years to pursue a new business strategy with Foton.

Ford has gradually been shifting upmarket over the past few years, which has put its cars out of reach for local residents.

The dealer also cited economic pressures and the cost of adhering to Ford’s dealership specifications as a major reason for the shift to a Chinese automaker.

BMW is killing it in South Africa

BMW sold approximately 3,200 vehicles in South Africa in the first quarter of 2025.

This sum makes it the country’s leading premium vehicle brand, outperforming its long-time rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi with a 40% market share of the segment.

A big reason for this success is the next-gen X3 SUV, which is built in South Africa and has been a major hit with supply struggling to keep up with customer orders.

First look at the new Omoda crossover coming to South Africa

Omoda has officially unveiled its latest car, the C3 crossover, which is coming to South Africa.

The C3 will serve as the brand’s new entry-level model below the C5 and is aimed at younger audiences with a sci-fi appearance and generous spec sheet.

The C3 will go on sale globally in October 2025, though it will only appear in South Africa in early 2026.

1 in 2 drivers guilty of this offence in South Africa

Roughly half of all driver’s licences in South Africa are thought to be fraudulently obtained, meaning 50% of all drivers have potentially not completed a driving exam.

This issue was highlighted by Masterdrive CEO Eugene Herbert, who explained it is far easier to pay for a false licence than to fail and repeat a driving test over and over.

The high number of illegal licences is seen as a major contributor to the country’s road accident statistics, as many drivers on the road are not adequately prepared to react to real-world conditions.