The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) notes that August continued the positive trend for new-vehicle sales in South Africa, reflecting strong consumer demand and activity across the market.
“The good news has continued for the South African retail motor industry, with August delivering another bumper month for sales. It was, in fact, the best sales month since September 2015, with 51 880 vehicles retailed - 18.7% higher than the corresponding month last year,” says Ryan Seele, executive member of the NADA NEC, commenting on the August sales figures released today by naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.
“We saw noticeably higher traffic on dealer floors, with the majority of buyers being private individuals rather than business or fleet customers. Many are beginning to feel relief from the recent interest rate cuts. While not all enquiries and test drives converted into sales immediately, the level of consumer interest and the intent to purchase in the near future are very encouraging for retail dealers,” he says.
Two locally produced vehicles in the affordable passenger car segment, the Toyota Corolla Cross and the VW Vivo, were the best-selling passenger cars for the month, each selling well over 2 000 units. This demonstrates that South African consumers continue to show strong demand for locally built vehicles, even amid the influx of lower-priced imports entering the market.
The official results could have been even better if more of the newer Chinese brands had reported sales figures. One addition this month was MG, which sold 443 vehicles.
The used vehicle market also enjoyed another strong month. Cars in the sub-R300,000 bracket remain particularly attractive, offering buyers greater affordability compared to new vehicles, which continue to drive robust sales in this segment.
Audi South Africa has introduced the new Q5 range, comprising the third-generation Q5 SUV, second-generation Q5 Sportback, and the performance-focused SQ5 SUV and SQ5 Sportback. The range is built on Audi's Premium Platform Combustion and brings a new generation of petrol and diesel engines to the nameplate.
Geely Auto South Africa (GASA) has introduced Riddara, Geely Auto Group's new energy bakkie brand, to the South African market.
Ford’s next big electric vehicle push is less about a dramatic new badge and more about what happens behind factory doors.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
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The Toyota Starlet has improved from zero to a four-star rating for adult occupant protection in Global NCAP's latest #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results. This follows a safety upgrade to make six airbags a standard fit.
South Africa's new vehicle market sustained strong momentum in August 2026, with aggregate sales increasing by 11,4% year-on-year to 57 898 units, says the Automotive Business Councill | naamsa.
South Africa’s new-vehicle market maintained its momentum in August, with aggregate sales of 57 898 units representing an increase of 11.4% compared with the same month last year.
