These are the 5 automakers that suffered the sharpest year-on-year sales declines in South Africa in Q1 2026. And, perhaps surprisingly, one is a Chinese brand…
- 10 automakers suffered sales declines in Q1 2026
- 5 of those endured double-digit percentage drops
- Proton SA registered sharpest percentage decline
In the opening quarter of 2026, South Africa’s new-vehicle market grew 12.4% year on year to a heady 161 978 units. Despite this robust performance from the broader industry, as many as 5 automakers suffered double-digit percentage sales declines in Q1 2026.
So, which automakers shrunk most in this growing market? Well, we’ve tallied up the sales figures for the first 3 months of 2026 and compared them to Q1 2025’s numbers. That allowed us to identify the manufacturers that suffered the sharpest year-on-year percentage drops.
Keep in mind we’ve focused on automakers that play in the light-vehicle segments, omitting truck- and bus-only manufacturers from this exercise. In addition, we’ve based our calculations on “manufacturer” totals, as reported to Naamsa. So, note that certain individual brands are grouped under broader manufacturer banners (for instance, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, Opel and Peugeot all fall under Stellantis).
Of the 33 automakers included in this exercise, as many as 10 endured year-on-year sales declines. For the record, Mazda (666 units; down 8.8%), Mitsubishi (528 units; down 5.0%), the Volkswagen Group (15 243 units, including Audi; down 3.8%), Renault (4 246 units; down 0.7%) and Jaguar Land Rover (802 units; down 0.4%) all lost sales, year on year. But 5 other automakers suffered even more…
Proton (20 units) – down 87.5%
Based on Naamsa figures, the manufacturer that suffered the most significant year-on-year percentage drop in sales in Q1 2026 was Proton South Africa. Distributed by the Combined Motor Holdings (CMH) Group, the Malaysian automaker’s local registrations plummeted 87.5% year on year, from 160 units to a mere 20 units.
Subaru (87 units) – down 37.9%
Japanese brand Subaru registered the 2nd sharpest instance of year-on-year sales decline in South Africa over the opening 3 months of the year, with this firm’s local registrations dropping 37.9% (compared to Q1 2025) to just 87 units. Interestingly, the Forester accounted for as many as 52 of those sales.
Nissan (3 824 units) – down 22.9%
Nissan’s woes continued in the first quarter of the year, with local registrations falling 22.9% year on year to 3 824 units. Sales of the Navara (which will no longer be built in Rosslyn from May 2026) dropped a considerable 30.9% year on year to 1 068 units, while Magnite registrations (excluding the Move-badged panel van) slipped 15.1% year on year to 2 316 units.
Volvo Cars (250 units) – down 18.3%
According to figures reported to Naamsa, Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars sold just 250 units in South Africa in Q1 2026, representing an 18.3% year-on-year decline. While the XC60 led the charge for the brand in Q1 2025, local registrations of this model fell a hefty 75.2% in the opening 3 months of 2026.
BAIC (551 units) – down 17.3%
Considering the growth of Chinese brands in recent times, it’s perhaps surprising to see BAIC make the list of automakers with the sharpest sales declines in Q1 2026. Yes, the Beijing-based brand’s local registrations fell 17.3% year on year to 551 units, despite the arrival of the B30 (which accounted for nearly 60% of BAIC’s sales in this year’s first quarter).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About South Africa’s Q1 2026 Sales Declines
Q: Which automaker suffered the most significant percentage drop in the first quarter?
A: Proton South Africa experienced the sharpest decline, with local registrations plummeting by 87.5% year-on-year. The Malaysian brand saw its sales fall from 160 units in Q1 2025 to just 20 units in Q1 2026.
Q: Why is Nissan seeing such a sharp decrease in sales volume?
A: Nissan’s 22.9% decline could be tied to the winding down of local production at its Rosslyn plant, which is set to be taken over by Chery in May 2026. This transition has impacted the Navara, which saw a 30.9% drop in sales, while the Magnite range also experienced a 15.1% year-on-year decrease.
Q: Is the BAIC B30 helping the brand recover from its 17.3% decline?
A: While BAIC’s overall sales fell to 551 units, the new BAIC B30 is actually the brand’s primary lifeline. In fact, the B30 accounted for nearly 60% of the manufacturer’s total local sales in Q1 2026. Without the strong performance of this new SUV, BAIC’s double-digit decline likely would have been far more severe.
Related content
Q1 2026 bakkie sales in SA: D-Max grabs 2nd!
