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Wednesday / 13 November 2024
HomeNewsDiscontinued Toyota and Nissan cars on top of hijackers’ shopping lists in South Africa

Discontinued Toyota and Nissan cars on top of hijackers’ shopping lists in South Africa

The Toyota Etios, Nissan Almera, and Nissan NP200 are among the most stolen cars in South Africa despite the fact that all three of them are no longer on sale.

All three of these models have been discontinued by their manufacturers, yet they are still a major target for the nation’s hijackers looking to make money one way or another.

When supply stops, but demand does not

While any car is at risk of hijacking in South Africa, criminals tend to prefer going after popular models as there is a steadfast demand for these vehicles and their parts.

This is why the lists of frequently stolen cars tend to correlate with that of each month’s best-sellers, though there are exceptions.

Security company Fidelity ADT recently revealed the most hijacked vehicles in South Africa based on its data for the first half of 2024, which you can see below:

Most of these names aren’t surprising to see on this list, as it includes local favourites like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, BMW 3 Series, and VW Polo.

Toyota was by far the most high-risk as eight of its badges are a common pick for criminals, which can be expected given that the Japanese automaker is the most popular brand in the nation by a wide margin.

“Hijackers target specific vehicles for a specific purpose and market. The demand for Toyotas, VWs, Fords, and Nissans remains high on the black market,” said Fidelity.

However, three of the cars documented by Fidelity – the Nissan Almera, Nissan NP200, and Toyota Etios – are unusual in that all of them have been pulled from the market.

The Etios hatchback bid farewell in 2020 to be replaced by the Starlet, while the Almera was quietly moved from showrooms in 2023 in response to the market shifting away from sedans.

The NP200, meanwhile, was shelved earlier this year owing to its ageing design, but all three of these badges have one thing in common – they were incredibly popular in their heyday.

Consequently, the lack of new units entering South Africa has created a huge demand for parts for older models, which in turn has led to a thriving black market.

The vehicle tracking and recovery company Cartrack noted that the theft of car components has become more widespread than that of entire vehicles.

There is a high demand for affordable, readily available parts on the black market, and criminals are only too happy to provide the supply as parts are much easier to conceal and sell than whole cars.

As a result, thieves will often strip a car to obtain the following items:

  • Airbags
  • Batteries
  • Headlights
  • Side mirrors
  • Sound equipment
  • Tailgates
  • Tyres
  • Wiper blades
  • Wheel caps
  • Wheel rims

It is also worth noting that the NP200 is in a rather unique situation, as it was the only remaining compact bakkie in South Africa prior to its cancellation.

It served a vital role as an affordable light commercial vehicle for small businesses, which helped to make one of the best-selling vehicles in the country alongside much bigger models like the Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger.

The Nissan’s discontinuation means there are currently no compact bakkies on sale in South Africa, but that doesn’t mean that demand has disappeared.

It’s possible then, that criminals are not just stealing NP200s to strip for parts, but also to supply a market that is in desperate need of an affordable workhorse.

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