It’s hard to believe, but we’re already more than halfway through the year, which means it’s time to tally up the sales South Africa’s car manufacturers have managed to accumulate so far.
Within the first six months of 2025, the auto industry collectively sold a staggering 278,911 units, marking a year-on-year improvement of 13.6% from the same period in 2024.
As you may have guessed, Toyota is still the top dog in South Africa, having sold 67,938 cars since the new year kicked in, according to Cars.co.za
This is nearly double the sales figures achieved by the second most popular brand, cementing Toyota’s position as the number one choice for motorists.
That’s not to say that Toyota is the only brand doing well in South Africa, as Suzuki sold an impressive 34,461 units over the same period.
It’s a major breakthrough for the Japanese automaker, as it has well and truly surpassed VW to become the second-best-selling carmaker in the country.
Of course, VW isn’t far behind, as it sold a total of 29,366 units.
Outside of the top three, Hyundai moved 18,100 new models, while Ford sold 16,662.
Isuzu then came sixth with 12,221 purchases, putting it just ahead of two Chinese automakers – GWM and Chery.
GWM has thus far proven to be the more popular of the two, selling 11,835 units compared to Chery’s 11,687, but the two brands are remarkably close.
Another interesting addition is Mahindra, which has experienced a meteoric rise in interest over the past year.
Consequently, the Indian carmaker is now sitting in ninth with 9,611 units, putting it ahead of Kia in 10th with its 8,235 sales.
Best-selling car brands in South Africa
These were the best-selling car brands in South Africa in the first half of 2025.
Click on the underlined names for more information.
1. Toyota – 67,938 units
2. Suzuki – 34,461 units
3. VW – 29,366 units
4. Hyundai – 18,100 units
5. Ford – 16,662 units
6. Isuzu – 12,221 units
7. GWM – 11,835 units
8. Chery – 11,687 units
9. Mahindra – 9,611 units
10. Kia – 8,234 units
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