5 important things that happened in South Africa’s car industry this week

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

The car brand quietly taking South Africa by storm

Mahindra is the fastest-growing car brand in South Africa, outpacing other top performers like Chery and Suzuki.

The Indian carmaker’s sales grew by 37.4% year-on-year in Q4 2024, while legacy brands like Nissan and BMW saw a decline over the same period.

Despite this, Mahindra’s success has largely slipped under the radar as the constant introduction of new Chinese makes continues to dominate headlines.

New problem for dashcams in South Africa’s biggest city

The City of Johannesburg’s controversial new by-law on surveillance cameras may require that all dashcams and smartphones in the city be officially registered before they can be used.

The by-law requires that all closed circuit cameras with a view of a public area must now receive formal approval from the municipality before they can be installed.

Under the broad terminology used in the legislation, this can include cameras attached to cars, as well as any other device used to record a crime taking place.

New Renault Duster launched in South Africa

Renault has officially launched the new Duster in South Africa.

The French crossover is available in three specifications, with prices starting at R489,999.

This includes a top-spec variant with four-wheel drive and a mild-hybrid engine.

Prado-based Lexus GX – South African pricing revealed

Lexus has revealed the pricing for the upcoming GX, which will debut before the end of the month.

The luxury SUV will be available in two specifications with prices starting at R1,766,000.

The GX is based on the same platform as the Toyota Prado and is positioned as an even more upmarket version of the popular 4×4.

Good news for petrol taxes in South Africa

South Africa’s two biggest fuel taxes – the General Fuel Levy (GFL) and Road Accident Fund (RAF) Levy – will not be increased for 2025.

This is according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who delivered his revised budget speech on Wednesday, 12 March 2025.

The GFL will remain at R3.85 per litre, while the RAF Levy is set at R2.18 per litre.