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.
According to the latest figures released by naamsa | The Automotive Business Council, aggregate domestic new vehicle sales reached 61 890 units in October 2026, an increase of 5 839 units compared with the 56 051 vehicles sold in October last year.
Export sales also improved, reaching 38 117 units. This represented a 6.3% increase compared with October 2025 and a 21.1% improvement on September’s export volumes.
The domestic market’s performance came despite continued pressure on consumers’ disposable income and rising transport costs.
Of the 61 890 new vehicles sold locally during October, an estimated 48 234 units, representing 78.0% of the total, were sold through dealerships. The vehicle rental industry accounted for 16.5% of sales, followed by government purchases at 3.3% and corporate fleet sales at 2.2%.
Passenger cars remained the largest contributor to domestic sales. The segment recorded 45 084 units during October, an increase of 5 380 vehicles, or 13.6%, compared with the 39 704 units sold during the corresponding month last year.
The rental industry accounted for 21.4% of new passenger vehicle sales during the month.
Sales of new light commercial vehicles, including bakkies and minibuses, reached 13 689 units. This was 291 units, or 2.2%, higher than the 13 398 units recorded in October 2025.
The medium commercial vehicle segment moved in the opposite direction, with sales declining by seven units, or 0.9%, from 777 vehicles last year to 770 in October.
Heavy trucks and buses recorded stronger growth. Sales increased by 175 units, or 8.1%, to 2 347 vehicles, compared with 2 172 units in October 2025. The improvement in exports provided a further positive development for South Africa’s automotive industry.
Export volumes had been declining since February 2026 before recovering during October. Despite the monthly improvement and year-on-year growth, cumulative vehicle exports for the first ten months of 2026 remained 8.3% below the corresponding period last year.
The recovery was supported by stronger performances in selected vehicle segments, particularly light commercial vehicles and extra-heavy commercial vehicles.
South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector is an important contributor to the national economy. According to naamsa, the industry contributed 5.2% to gross domestic product, comprising 3.3% from manufacturing and 1.9% from retail, while vehicles and components exported in 2025 reached a record value of R291 billion.
These exports accounted for 15.6% of South Africa’s total exports. The October figures come as the industry enters the final quarter of the year, with domestic demand showing growth while export volumes remain below their 2025 levels.
See more results: AVAF Infographic October 2026
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.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
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.
Africa does not lack automotive ambition. Across the continent, governments increasingly recognise the automotive industry as a catalyst for industrialisation, job creation, skills development, technology transfer and greater intra-African trade.
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