We have the latest sales figures, bakkie fans! Here’s your monthly look at South Africa’s best- and worst-selling bakkies for October 2023…
In October 2023, South Africa’s new-vehicle industry registered a year-on-year decline of 2.0% to finish on 45 445 units. The light-commercial vehicle (LCV) segment likewise experienced a fall, with registrations in this space coming in at 12 361 units, or 3.0% down on the same month in 2022.
So, what happened on the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies? Well, the Prospecton-produced Toyota Hilux (a new widebody GR Sport derivative is currently “under study” for SA) was predictably again way out in front, ending October 2023 on a heady 3 110 units. For the record, this was the 6th time this year the Japanese stalwart had crossed the 3 000-unit barrier.
Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger shed 560 sales month on month to finish on 1 853 registrations, though that was still enough for the Silverton-made bakkie to retain 2nd place. The Straundale-built Isuzu D-Max (1 464 units) also experienced a decline in sales compared with its September effort, but nevertheless again completed the podium. Though a facelifted D-Max has broken cover overseas, we likely won’t see it here for some time still.
The Nissan NP200 – production of which is scheduled to come to a close at Rosslyn in March 2024, with Nissan SA having entered a “formal consultation phase to restructure the business” as it seeks a replacement model – held steady in 4th position with 961 units. Recently bolstered by new S6 Karoo single-cab derivatives, the KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up (565 units) range again grabbed 5th.
With a hardcore Warrior derivative on the cards and a new generation starting to appear on the horizon, the Nissan Navara (354 units) moved up 2 places to 6th. The Volkswagen Amarok (352 units), though, was right on its tail in 7th. That’s the highest ranking the new-generation (Ford-built) Amarok has managed since launching in Mzansi in March 2023, when it placed 8th with 401 registrations (though that figure likely included a few 1st-gen units).
China’s GWM P-Series (281 units) slipped 2 places to 8th, while the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 – which has received an update overseas, including the option of the familiar 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission – fell 2 spots to 9th, with 248 registrations. Finally, the GWM Steed (99 units) returned to the table to seize the final position.
Best of the rest in October 2023: bakkies outside the top 10
So, which bakkies didn’t crack the top 10 in October 2023? Well, the Peugeot Landtrek improved its tally to 63 units – 35 of which came via the rental-sales channel. While this model is currently imported from China, local production is due to start in Coega (near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape) by “early 2026”.
After making the cut in September, the Mitsubishi Triton was relegated from the top 10 in October, with just 48 examples sold. Meanwhile, JAC’s T-badged bakkies (the Chinese automaker unfortunately reports only a combined figure for its T6, T8 and new T9 line-ups) managed 96 registrations.
The rationalised Mahindra Bolero range had to settle for just 27 sales in October 2023, while the Jeep Gladiator (7 units) and Mazda BT-50 (5 units) again failed to make it into double figures. For the record, the facelifted Gladiator is likely to make local landfall only towards the end of 2024.
Export winners in SA’s bakkie segment in October 2023
What about the export market? Well, the Toyota Hilux kept its nose ahead of the Ford Ranger in this race too, with 7 149 units of the Prospecton-built bakkie and 6 544 examples of its Silverton-produced rival shipped off to overseas markets in October 2023.
The D-Max (544 units), Navara (327 units) and NP200 (11 units) again made up the numbers on the export charts. As has been the case for several months now, the official Naamsa report furthermore showed a couple of imported models being exported from local shores in October 2023, this time in the form of the Mitsubishi Triton (28 units) and GWM P-Series (27 units).
10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa for October 2023
1. Toyota Hilux – 3 110 units
2. Ford Ranger – 1 853 units
3. Isuzu D-Max – 1 464 units
4. Nissan NP200 – 961 units
5. Mahindra Pik Up – 565 units
6. Nissan Navara – 354 units
7. Volkswagen Amarok – 352 units
8. GWM P-Series – 281 units
9. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 – 248 units
10. GWM Steed – 99 units
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