Best-selling car brands in South Africa

In April 2022, 37,107 new vehicles were sold in South Africa, marking a 1,516-unit (4.3% ) increase when compared to the same period in 2021.

Toyota was the best-selling vehicle brand with 8,952 units sold, despite a temporary shutdown of its KwaZulu-Natal-based factory due to severe floods in the area.

“The domestic automotive industry is expected to continue a stop-start recovery in 2022 in view of prevailing Covid-19 related supply chain disruptions, insufficient stocks, and escalating energy and transportation cost increases,” said Naamsa, the organisation that provides the monthly new vehicle sales statistics.

The numbers

New vehicle sales in April were buoyed by strong purchases from the vehicle rental industry, as other segments performed weaker than anticipated, said Naamsa.

Out of the 37,107 total sales during the month, 88.4% represented sales to dealerships, 9.1% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, 1.5% represented sales to the government, and 1.0% represented sales to industry corporate fleets.

Out of these sales, the passenger-car market accounted for 26,653 units, reflecting a 12.9% increase when compared to April 2021.

On the other hand, light commercial vehicles including bakkies and mini-buses sold 9,558 vehicles last month, 11.9% lower than a year before.

The sales performance of both medium and heavy trucks also fell in April by 9.4% and 4.6%, respectively – to a total of 475 units and 1,421 units moved.

Export sales then improved by 16% when compared to 2021, to a total of 30,788 vehicles sent to overseas markets during April.

The cars

Toyota kept its lead as the best-selling car brand in South Africa in April, although VW is now much closer on its heels than it was in March.

Suzuki and Hyundai swopped places in April when compared to a month before, with Suzuki now in third and Hyundai in fourth.

Renault and Nissan also traded their spots, Renault now taking up fifth place and Nissan sixth.

Kia had a better month than most, though, and went all the way from ninth in March to seventh in April, whereas Ford went from seventh to eighth.

As a result, Haval leapt from eighth last month to ninth in April, while Isuzu has held the 10th best-selling position for the fourth consecutive month.

Detailed below are the best-selling car brands in South Africa for April 2022.

Click on the underlined names for more information.