It is more good news about car sales for May with new-vehicle figures of 45 308 units, which reflected an increase of 8 169 units, or a substantial gain of 22.0%, from the 37 139 vehicles sold in May 2024, buoyed by relatively stable economic fundamentals earlier in the year.
Overall, out of the total reported industry sales of 45 308 vehicles, an estimated 40 062 units, or 88.4%, represented dealer sales, an estimated 6.8% represented sales to the vehicle-rental industry, 3.0% to industry corporate fleets and 1.8% to government sales.
The May 2025 new passenger car market, at 31 741 units, registered an increase of 7 322 cars, or a gain of 30.0%, compared to the 24 419 new cars sold in May 2024. Car rental sales accounted for 8.5% of new passenger vehicle sales during the month. Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini-buses, at 10 938 units during May 2025, recorded an increase of 601 units, or a gain of 5.8%, from the 10 337 light commercial vehicles sold during May 2024.
Sales for medium and heavy truck segments of the industry reflected a sound performance in May 2025 and at 660 units and 1,969 units respectively, recorded an increase of 122 units, or 22.7% from the 538 units sold in May 2024 in the case of medium commercial vehicles and, in the case of heavy trucks and buses, an increase of 124 vehicles, or 6.7%, compared to the 1 845 units sold in the corresponding month last year.
However, not all indicators moved in the right direction. Vehicle export sales decreased by 5 165 units, or 14.6%, to 30 112 units in May 2025 compared to the 35 277 vehicles exported in May 2024. However, vehicle exports for the year to date were still 1.4% ahead of the same period last year.
The decrease in exports during the month could be attributed to a major exporting OEM halting production from mid-April to mid-May to complete the remaining 40% of the required installations and upgrades in its body shop, paint shop and final assembly areas in preparation for the introduction of a new model.
However, the fragility of global demand in the face of rising protectionism is increasing and highlights the importance of maintaining export competitiveness through policy alignment, market diversification and value-chain resilience, naamsa states.
View more results here.
Hyundai Automotive South Africa officially opened Hyundai Midrand, a new dealership aimed at strengthening the brand’s presence in Gauteng and responding to growing customer demand in one of the province’s fastest-growing commercial corridors.
The compact SUV market in South Africa has gained a new contender with the arrival of the GAC Emzoom Nova. It joins the existing Emzoom Executive and Emzoom R‑Style models, broadening the range offered by Salvador Caetano South Africa, the official distributor of GAC Motor.
Chinese vehicle brand Changan has strengthened its South African retail presence with the opening of a new flagship dealership in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, as the company pushes ahead with plans to establish about 45 dealerships nationally during 2026.
Advertisement
Advertisement
I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
A South African dealership has been instructed to remove or amend an advertisement for a new Jetour T2 after the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruled that the listing created the impression that a specific vehicle was immediately available for purchase when it was not.
If you were hoping to experience the roaring streets of the Isle of Man TT in 2026, you are already too late. This event, with practice sessions starting on 25 May 2026 and racing commencing on the 30th, requires at least six to twelve months of planning, along with a substantial budget.
Pinewood.AI has added two new embedded modules to its Business Intelligence Solution, giving dealers and OEMs greater insight into financial performance and the customer journey, it says.
