Cars.co.za report offers interesting insights
Cars.co.za recently launched Industry Report 2026 at its DealerCon summit, offers insight into the forces shaping South Africa’s vehicle market.
- Dealer News
- 22 September 2026
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.
Cars.co.za recently launched Industry Report 2026 at its DealerCon summit, offers insight into the forces shaping South Africa’s vehicle market.
Nissan has introduced the Tekton, a new compact SUV for the South African market. The model is built on the Renault‑Nissan alliance’s CMF‑B platform and is closely related to the Renault Duster, sharing engines and mechanical components.
At the recent DealerCon 2026, hosted by Cars.co.za automotive excellence was celebrated by honouring top executives in the automotive retails industry.
Advertisement
Advertisement
I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
Car recalls often raise concern among owners, but the National Automobile Dealers' Association (NADA) says recall campaigns show that manufacturers are accountable and committed to quality, safety and customer care.
Affordability is driving a structural shift in South Africa’s vehicle market, with SUVs gaining significant ground as consumers increasingly seek competitively priced, well-equipped vehicles.
South Africa’s used car market continued to grow during the first half of 2026, despite pressure on household budgets and a 25 basis point interest rate increase in May.