In October 2025, SA’s new-vehicle market put in its best performance in over a decade, marking 13 consecutive months of year-on-year growth. Here’s your industry overview, including the top-selling brands…
- Local new-vehicle sales surge to 55 956 units
- Market’s best performance since March 2015
- Suzuki Auto SA breaks sales record yet again
In October 2025, South Africa’s new-vehicle market hit a 10-year high, with local sales increasing 16.0% year on year to 55 956 units. That’s not only the SA market’s best showing since March 2015 but also the 13th straight instance of month-on-month growth (and the 4th consecutive month of 50 000+ sales). In addition, October’s sales were 2.3% higher than September 2025’s already strong showing.
According to Naamsa, the local new-vehicle industry’s “upward trajectory” was supported by “easing inflation, a firmer rand [and] continued signs of improving consumer sentiment”. New-vehicle exports from South Africa, meanwhile, increased 0.5% year on year to 32 659 units in October 2025.
The industry representative body added that 79.1% of October 2025’s total reported domestic figure of 55 956 units represented sales through the dealer channel, while an estimated – and, we might add, rather lofty – 16.6% were sales to the new-vehicle rental industry, 2.2% to government and 2.1% to industry corporate fleets.
As has been the case for some time now, the new passenger-vehicle market was the key driver of overall growth, reaching 39 610 units (up 14.8% year on year) or its highest monthly tally since October 2014. Ahead of SA’s peak travel season, the rental channel accounted for a considerable 21.7% of that figure. Meanwhile, local registrations of light-commercial vehicles (LCVs) increased 23.9% year on year to 13 361 units.
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Brandon Cohen, National Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), described the market’s continued growth as “exceptional”, adding the latest sales figures were “even better than we anticipated”.
“Foot traffic in franchised dealerships was encouraging throughout October, but the magnitude of these results, achieved despite tight household budgets and historically low consumer confidence, is remarkable,” he said, before suggesting interest-rate cuts (implemented earlier in the year), easing fuel prices and a stronger rand all helped “improve affordability at the point of sale”.
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Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank, said the industry’s performance over the year thus far showed “how improving sentiment and a more confident economy are translating directly into mobility decisions”.
“Demand remains high, but the buying behaviour behind it has evolved. Consumers are coming back to the showroom with calculators in hand. It’s less about excitement and more about smart, sustainable choices that fit long-term budgets,” Gaoaketse added, suggesting modern buyers were “looking for predictability and value rather than prestige”.
New-vehicle sales summary for October 2025
- Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 55 956 units increased by 16.0% (7 734 units) compared to October 2024.
- New passenger-vehicle sales of 39 610 units increased by 14.8% (5 107 units) compared to October 2024.
- New light-commercial vehicle sales of 13 361 units increased by 23.9% (2 579 units) compared to October 2024.
- Export sales of 32 659 units increased by 0.5% (178 units) compared to October 2024.
10 best-selling automakers in SA in October 2025
Yes, Toyota SA Motors (including Lexus and Hino) was again top of the charts in October 2025, even if its total of 13 559 units represented a 4.1% month-on-month decline. Still, that figure stands as the Japanese automaker’s 2nd highest effort of 2025 and translates to a considerable 24.2% market share.
Meanwhile, Suzuki Auto SA again placed 2nd – as it has every single month so far this year – but set yet another all-time record in the process. In October 2025, Suzuki registered a whopping 6 890 units (up 13.5% month on month), beating its previous best of 6 534 units, which it achieved as recently as August 2025.
Volkswagen Group Africa (including the Audi brand) again completed the podium, improving its sales 7.9% month on month to 6 221 units. For the record, that’s the first time this year the German group has breached the 6 000-unit mark and its top performance since November 2024.
After slipping to 5th in September, Hyundai Automotive SA grabbed back 4th position in October 2025, registering 3 017 units (representing marginal month-on-month growth of 0.4%). That meant Ford Motor Company of SA fell back to 5th place, with local registrations dipping 4.8% month on month to 2 946 units.
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GWM SA (2 805 units, its highest figure this year) held strong in 6th on the back of 7.1% month-on-month growth, while Isuzu Motors SA’s 12.3% month-on-month improvement (to finish on 2 784 units, likewise a high for 2025 thus far) wasn’t enough to see it climb out of 7th spot. Chery SA retained 8th, despite sales sliding 2.4% (compared to September) to 2 210 units.
Continuing to steadily regain market share, Kia SA grew 6.0% month on month to 1 808 units, though remained in 9th position. The final ranking in the top 10 again went to Mahindra SA, which registered a 1.8% month-on-month improvement in local sales to end on 1 551 units.
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So, there was no space in the top 10 for Renault SA (1 446 units), which again had to settle for 11th. Nissan SA (1 360 units) stayed in 12th place, while Omoda & Jaecoo (1 311 units) set another sales record to climb to 13th. BMW Group SA – which includes the BMW and Mini brands – thus slipped to 14th (with a Naamsa-estimated 1 306 units), while Stellantis SA (921 units) rounded out the top 15 with its own new sales record.
1. Toyota – 13 559 units
2. Suzuki – 6 890 units
3. Volkswagen Group – 6 221 units
4. Hyundai – 3 017 units
5. Ford – 2 946 units
6. GWM – 2 805 units
7. Isuzu – 2 784 units
8. Chery – 2 210 units
9. Kia – 1 808 units
10. Mahindra – 1 551 units
SA’s sales outlook for the rest of 2025
With 2 months of the year left, what’s next for the industry? Well, total reported domestic sales year to date at the end of October 2025 stand at 493 053 units, suggesting the local market is well on track to beat 2024’s total of 515 712 units. In fact, 2025 looks likely to mark SA’s return to pre-COVID levels of sales (for the record, 536 612 units were sold locally in 2019).
Naamsa says South Africa’s “macro-economic backdrop” continues to “show encouraging signs”. The industry representative body adds that fuel costs remain “relatively contained”, while “competitive pricing and softer vehicle inflation” continue to support affordability in select segments.
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The industry representative body furthermore points out that a “more stable currency environment” has helped ease imported-vehicle price pressures, while separately adding that the expected interest-rate reductions “in early 2026” bode positively for big-ticket consumer spending and fleet renewal cycles.
Meanwhile, NADA’s Cohen says he expects the market to “hold steady into year-end, supported by Black Friday promotions as well as continued rand stability”. He also suggests upcoming fuel-price cuts will provide “further relief for consumers and businesses alike”.
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“There are still uncertainties ahead which include the upcoming interest-rate decision to the rollout of AARTO and broader macroeconomic pressures, however, consumer appetite for new vehicles remains resilient,” concludes Cohen.
Finally, Gaoaketse believes the market will remain “steady and confident” as 2025 draws to a close, saying the “current level of activity shows an industry that has found its rhythm again, not one overheating”.
“Improving macro-economic conditions are supporting lending appetite and giving more consumers the confidence to take on medium-term debt. Many are also hopeful that further interest-rate cuts early next year will improve affordability even more,” says Gaoaketse.
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