The car brands taking South Africa’s used car market by storm

Chinese brands are experiencing a surge in interest in South Africa’s pre-owned car market.

AutoTrader recently published its mid-year industry report, revealing that Chinese vehicle sales jumped by a staggering 89% in the first half of 2025.

While brands from the People’s Republic were initially met with scepticism by local consumers, attitudes have shifted over the past five years, and several makes, such as Haval, Chery, and GWM, now enjoy a sizeable market share.

Chinese brands have rapidly gained favour with motorists because they are, in most cases, considerably cheaper than their legacy competitors without compromising on performance or features.

This has made them especially appealing in today’s economic climate, where vehicles are more expensive than ever, and many households are downsizing from two to just one car.

This surge in new-car sales is now starting to trickle down to the pre-owned market, where there has been a noticeable uptick in searches for Chinese models.

One of the standouts in this regard is BYD, which experienced a 463% year-on-year increase in searches from 2024 to 2025.

“Once the underdogs of the automotive world, Chinese automakers have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with, giving many established players in South Africa’s car market cause for concern,” reads the report.

Two other brands that saw enormous jumps in searches were LDV and Jaecoo, which went up by 296% and 218%, respectively.

Admittedly, these percentage gains are based on relatively small base figures, but it nevertheless shows that South Africans are starting to take notice of brands that would have been dismissed only a few years ago.

The following table shows the rapid growth that Chinese nameplates have experienced within the last year:

An evolving market

AutoTrader noted that the “value-for-money” angle is a significant part of the appeal of Chinese brands, and that it is starting to reshape consumer expectations for more established manufacturers.

“Chinese automakers have found a way to deliver exceptional value at a fraction of the traditional cost, offering roughly 80% of what buyers expect for only 60% of the price,” said George Mienie.

“That’s changing what South Africans consider possible when it comes to affordability and technology. The bigger story is how this is reshaping competition and setting new benchmarks that all automakers will have to meet.”

Aside from the value proposition, Chinese brands are currently leading the industry with regards to affordable hybrid and electric vehicles.

While companies like Toyota and Volvo still account for the majority of new-energy vehicle sales in South Africa, Chinese makes like Haval, Chery, Omoda, and BYD have introduced several new models in the past year that have helped to lower the barrier to entry for motorists.

AutoTrader highlighted that models like the BYD Shark (a plug-in hybrid bakkie) and Dolphin (an electric hatchback) saw an 400% increase in searches.

Another example, the Jaecoo J7 plug-in SUV, experienced a 218% uptick in searches.

This is another interesting trend, because it shows that South Africans are not just opening up to the idea of Chinese cars, but also the idea of electrified cars in general.

“The data indicates a broader trend in South Africa’s motoring landscape,” said Mienie.

“Chinese brands are increasingly meeting consumer demand for accessible pricing, contemporary design, and technological features, and their growing presence suggests they will play a greater role in shaping the country’s used car market in the years to come.”