South Africa’s new vehicle market recorded its strongest monthly sales performance of 2026 in October, with 61 890 vehicles sold as the industry maintained the higher levels of activity established towards the end of the third quarter.
According to the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), October sales increased by 10.4% compared with the same month last year, although the improvement over September was considerably smaller. The latest total was 234 vehicles, or 0.4%, higher than September’s revised figure of 61 656 units.
Sales for the first ten months of 2026 reached 554 081 vehicles, representing a 12.3% increase from the 493 427 units recorded during the corresponding period last year.
Brandon Cohen, chairperson of NADA, says the October figures were encouraging but needed to be considered in the context of continued pressure on household budgets. “October’s sales are encouraging, but the small increase from September calls for a balanced reading of the results,” he said. “Customers are still making careful decisions about what they can afford, and a stronger overall sales figure does not mean that pressure on household budgets has eased.”
Passenger cars continued to account for the largest share of the market. Sales increased by 762 vehicles, or 1.7%, from September to 45 084 units. This was 13.6% higher than the passenger cars sold in October 2025.
The light commercial vehicle segment, which includes bakkies and minibuses, experienced a month-on-month decline. Sales fell by 656 units, or 4.6%, to 13 689 vehicles. However, the segment remained 2.2% ahead of its performance in October last year.
Trucks and buses across the remaining commercial vehicle categories recorded combined sales of 3 117 units, an increase of 128 vehicles compared with September.
Brandon says the different movements across vehicle categories highlighted the importance of considering both monthly and annual comparisons when assessing market performance. “One month’s movement does not establish a trend, but tracking these changes helps retailers assess demand and plan their stock.”
With cumulative sales exceeding 550 000 units by the end of October, the market is approaching another significant milestone. Cohen said South Africa was well placed to exceed 600 000 new vehicle sales for the year, provided buying activity remained sufficient during November and December.
A further 45 919 sales over the final two months would take the annual total beyond that threshold.
However, Brandon cautioned that the final result would depend on consumers’ ability and willingness to commit to vehicle ownership. “The progress made this year is welcome, but continued growth will depend on what households and businesses can comfortably commit to vehicle ownership,” he states.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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South Africa’s new vehicle market continued to expand in October, with domestic sales increasing by 10.4% year on year, while vehicle exports recorded a recovery after months of declining volumes.
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