South Africa’s automotive industry, a key pillar of our economy, is an integral part of this world supply chain. Looking at the statistics provided in the latest Automotive Trade Manual released by The Automotive Business Council (naamsa) shows just how intertwined our economy is with the rest of the world.

• Export destinations (components & cars) for values in excess of R1 million comprised of 155 countries in 2024, up from 148 countries in 2023, with 29 countries recording export values in excess of R1 billion, and 64 countries recording export values in excess of R100 million.
• From 2023 to 2024, the total export values more than doubled in the case of 39 countries, which include Nigeria, Mali, Morocco, Gabon, Dominican Republic, Algeria, Liberia, Tunisia, Egypt, Guinea, Benin, Sweden, Rwanda, Venezuela, Iraq, Norway, Vietnam, Ireland, the Netherlands Antilles, Switzerland, Colombia, Antarctica, Cyprus, St Helena, Paraguay, Barbados, Andorra, Saint Martin, the Comoros, South Sudan, Malta, New Caledonia, Iran, Martinique, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Maldives, Equatorial Guinea and Brunei Darussalam.
• Vehicle exports decreased in 2024 for the first time since the COVID-19 affected 2020, to 390 844 units, down by 8 965 units, or 2.2% compared to the record performance of 2023, when the industry exported 399 809 units.
• A total of 390 844 left- and right-hand drive vehicles alone were exported to 109 countries around the world in 2024.
• Passenger car exports comprised 274 628 units, or 70.3% of the total; light commercial vehicle exports comprised 115 452 units, or 29.5% of the total; and medium and heavy commercial vehicle and bus exports comprised 764 units, or 0.2% of the total.
• Four of the seven OEMs in the country exported more than 50% of their vehicle production in 2024, while three were dependent on the domestic market for the bulk of their vehicle production.

South African OEMs manufacture a broad range of vehicles, including passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, medium commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, extra-heavy commercial vehicles and buses.

Passenger car models manufactured in South Africa in 2024 included the following:

• BMW X3.
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-Door.
• Toyota Corolla 4-door previous series (designated Quest), Cross and Fortuner.
• Volkswagen Polo, new and previous series (designated Vivo)

Light commercial vehicle models manufactured in South Africa in 2024 included the following:

• Ford Ranger.
• Isuzu Motors D-Max.
• Nissan Navara and NP200.
• Toyota Hilux, HiAce and Quantum.
• Volkswagen Amarok.

The following table reveals the top 10 vehicle export destinations from 2020 to 2024 for passenger cars and LCVs. In terms of number of units exported in 2024, Germany moved into top position since 2023, surpassing the UK, which dominated the rankings for nine consecutive years since 2014, followed by France, the US and Japan. VWSA, with its Polo model, maintained its top position for the fifth consecutive year in 2024. VWSA is the sole supplier of the Polo GTI for global markets, and in July 2024, the plant became the sole supplier of the Polo model for European and Asia Pacific markets.

Top 10 destinations for light vehicles (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) exported – 2020 to 2024

Source: naamsa/Lightstone Auto, SARS.