The winners of the 2026 naamsa Accelerator Awards
- Industry News
- 23 October 2026
Dealer industry news from around Southern Africa
SA Auto Week 2026 is scheduled to take place in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, from 13 to 16 October, with the event marking five years of SA Auto Week.
South Africa’s domestic new-vehicle market strengthened in September, recording 61 645 sales, its highest monthly total of 2026. Sales increased by 3 747 vehicles, or 6.5%, from August’s originally reported total and were 12.7% higher than in September 2025.
A dispute over the payload ratings of Jetour’s T1 and T2 SUVs has developed further following weighbridge testing in Gauteng, with the Automobile Association (AA) questioning some of the results and Jetour South Africa maintaining that its revised figures have been independently verified.
Chinese vehicle manufacturers continued to record significantly stronger growth than established OEM brands in South Africa during the second quarter of 2026, according to TransUnion's Q2 2026 Mobility Report.
South Africa's automotive market is becoming increasingly diverse, with growth extending beyond traditional new vehicle finance into used vehicles, rental and leasing, alternative financing and consumers who are more focused on affordability.
South African consumers face growing pressure on household finances after the South African Reserve Bank raises interest rates, adding to a range of rising costs that are already influencing vehicle purchasing decisions.
South Africa's economic recovery lost some momentum during the second quarter of 2026, while higher fuel and transport costs increased pressure on household affordability.
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.
South Africa's push to position industrial policy, and electric vehicle (EV) development in particular, as a cornerstone of economic transformation for emerging economies has found new traction at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
DealerCon 2026, hosted by Cars.co.za, will take place on Thursday, 17 September 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
Volkswagen AG is facing the most profound crisis in its modern history, with Reuters reporting that the company is preparing to cut up to 100 000 jobs worldwide and potentially close four German plants as part of a sweeping restructuring programme.
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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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