South Africans spent at least R740 million on the Toyota Corolla Cross in one month

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) sold a grand total of 14,495 vehicles in October 2026, cementing the brand’s position as the best-selling carmaker in the country.

The Japanese manufacturer’s local division accounted for nearly a quarter of all car sales in South Africa last month, securing a 23.4% market share.

It also recorded year-on-year growth, with sales increasing by 6.9% from 13,559 units in October 2025 to 14,495 in 2026.

“Maintaining a market share of 23.4% in a highly competitive environment is a testament to the strength of our portfolio and the trust South Africans continue to place in the Toyota brand,” said Leon Theron, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at TSAM.

“From passenger vehicles and commercial products to parts and fleet solutions, our focus remains on delivering quality, reliability and long-term value.”

Passenger cars remain a key contributor to the brand, accounting for more than half of Toyota’s monthly sales.

The standout entry last month was the Corolla Cross, which sold 1,723 units. Given that the crossover has a starting price of R429,100, this means consumers spent at least R740 million on the Cross in one month.

Bear in mind that the true amount is even larger than this, as prices for the Cross can reach up to R581,200 for the range-topping hybrid GR-Sport derivative.

Other popular models include the Starlet Cross (1,611 units), the Vitz (1,091 units), Starlet (1,081 units), Urban Cruiser (939 units) and the Fortuner (894 units).

Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus sold 84 units in October. The GX remained the strongest performer with 26 units, followed by the LX (22 units) and NX (20 units).

As for light commercial vehicle sales, the Hilux is unsurprisingly still dominating the charts with 3,820 customers picking one up last month, equating to a 30.4% market share.

The Hiace, the local favourite within the minibus taxi scene, sold 600 units, while the Land Cruiser 79 bakkie added 384 units to Toyota’s total.

Hino also had a solid month, selling 146 units of its 300 series medium commercial vehicles, and 129 units of its 500 and 700 heavy commercial vehicles.

“Toyota also maintained a strong presence in the fleet sector, serving more than 2 000 customers across industries including agriculture, mining, construction, logistics and transport,” said the company.

“Continued demand from these sectors underscores the strength of Toyota’s dealer network and the trust placed in its products despite ongoing economic pressures.”