[Image: Toyota]
In 2023, South Africa saw its highest vehicle sales since the pandemic, but things took a dip in 2024.
According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), 2024’s sales were down 3% from the previous year, dropping from 531,775 to 515,712 vehicles.
Vehicle exports also took a hit, hitting their lowest point since 2021. At 308,380 units, they were down 22.8% compared to 2023’s record of 399,594, and even lower than 2022’s 351,784.
On a brighter note, new passenger vehicles showed a bit of growth, up by 1.1% from 347,379 to 351,302. However, light commercial vehicles saw the biggest decline, dropping by 12% from 151,490 to 133,254. Medium-duty and heavy-duty commercial vehicles also ended the year in the negative, with medium-duty falling 6.5% to 7,714 units and heavy-duty down 4.9% to 23,442.
Naamsa said in a statement that the beginning of 2024 saw the new vehicle market at only 0.9% below the pre-pandemic level of 536,612 units in 2019, per The Citizen.
“The industry anticipated a year of two halves with a taxing first half of the year and with brighter economic prospects and an upswing in new vehicle sales during the second half of the year, which unfortunately did not materialise.
“New vehicle sales remained under pressure in 2024, continuing to reflect a shift in the matrix with various new entrants in the domestic market, in particular Chinese brands, offering options at the more affordable end of the pricing spectrum as consumers battled a tough economic climate.
“Despite a stronger year-end performance supported by strong seasonal sales to the vehicle rental industry, easing inflation and two interest rate cuts, new vehicle sales [still] decreased.”
No surprise that the bump in passenger vehicle sales also showed in the monthly top 10 best-sellers, with seven of them making the list.
But the Toyota Hilux kept its crown as South Africa’s top-selling vehicle in 2024, only being knocked off the top spot in November. Ag ja, the country will never stop loving a good bakkie.
In second place, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo had its moment, actually outpacing the Hilux at times throughout the year. Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger, Hilux’s main rival, claimed the third spot, followed by the Toyota Corolla Cross and Isuzu D-Max.
According to the Naamsa figures and some number crunching by The Citizen, here are the top 10 best-selling vehicles of 2024:
- Toyota Hilux
- Volkswagen Polo Vivo
- Ford Ranger
- Toyota Corolla Cross
- Isuzu D-Max
- Suzuki Swift
- Hyundai Grand i10
- Toyota Starlet
- Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
- Volkswagen Polo
Who the heck knows what 2025 will do to sales?
[Source: Citizen]