South Africa’s list of best-selling bakkies saw some movement (including on the podium!) in March 2023, plus the debut of a certain Ford-built Volkswagen pick-up. Let’s take a closer look at the sales figures…
Though South Africa’s new-vehicle market shrunk slightly year on year in March 2023 to a still-impressive 50 157 units, the light-commercial segment (which is dominated by bakkies) enjoyed 11.1% growth, finishing the month on 15 529 units (the highest figure achieved by this segment for more than a year). So, what happened on the list of SA’s best- and worst-selling bakkies?
Well, no prizes for guessing the Prospecton-built Toyota Hilux was again out in front (just as it was in February 2023), with a considerable 3 920 units registered in South Africa during March 2023. Fascinatingly, however, the Struandale-produced Isuzu D-Max grabbed 2nd place with 2 289 units (500 of which represented sales to government), pushing the new Silverton-manufactured Ford Ranger (2 247 units) into a very close 3rd.
As an aside, Ford Motor Company of SA confirmed to Cars.co.za the Ranger’s figure included as many as 642 examples of the range-topping Raptor.
The Nissan NP200 (1 404 units) and Mahindra Pik Up (966 units) increased their tallies month on month, holding steady in 4th and 5th, respectively. Though the Nissan Navara’s haul in March 2023 fell somewhat to 475 units, the Rosslyn-built bakkie nevertheless remained in 6th position, again just ahead of the seemingly evergreen Toyota Land Cruiser 79 (406 units).
Having officially arrived in local dealerships on 18 March, the new Volkswagen Amarok – which is built alongside the Ranger at Ford’s facility in Gauteng – enjoyed a strong start (perhaps boosted by the fulfilment of pre-orders), ending the month with 401 registrations and thus returning the nameplate to the table by placing 8th.
The Amarok’s reappearance in the top 10 saw the imported GWM P-Series (372 units) and GWM Steed (118 units) each drop a spot, with the Chinese bakkies finishing in 9th and 10th, respectively.
Best of the rest in March 2023
What about the bit-part players? Well, although the Mitsubishi Triton improved month on month to 62 registrations, it dropped out of the top 10 in March 2023. The Peugeot Landtrek, meanwhile, finished the month on 37 units, ahead of the Mahindra Bolero (21 units), the Jeep Gladiator (13 units) and the Mazda BT-50 (6 units).
Meanwhile, JAC’s T-badged bakkies – the Chinese automaker reports a combined figure for its T6 and T8 line-ups – ended March 2023 on a total of 45 units.
Export winners in March 2023
What about the bakkie export market? Well, the Ford Ranger moved into 1st place here, with 5 708 units shipped overseas in March 2023. That saw the Toyota Hilux pushed down into 2nd, with 3 588 units exported during the month.
The D-Max (743 units), Navara (450 units) and NP200 (29 units) again made up the numbers on the export charts. The official Naamsa report again interestingly showed a handful of imported models being exported from local shores in March 2023, in the form of the Triton (30 units), P-Series (18 units), Gladiator (1 unit) and Steed (1 unit).
10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa for March 2023
1. Toyota Hilux – 3 920 units
2. Isuzu D-Max – 2 289 units
3. Ford Ranger – 2 247 units
4. Nissan NP200 – 1 404 units
5. Mahindra Pik Up – 966 units
6. Nissan Navara – 475 units
7. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 – 406 units
8. Volkswagen Amarok – 401 units
9. GWM P-Series – 372 units
10. GWM Steed – 118 units
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