GWM’s local boss says the Chinese firm aims to crack the list of South Africa’s top 5 automakers in 2026. And the numbers suggest hitting such a target is entirely possible…
- GWM SA boss says firm aims for top 5 place in 2026
- Cracking the top 5 depends on getting “pricing right”
- GWM ranked 9th in 2024 but sits 6th in 2025 YTD
Will GWM become the first Chinese automaker to crack the list of South Africa’s top 5 automotive brands? Well, the company’s local boss says he hopes to achieve this goal in 2026 – and the latest sales figures suggest it’s entirely possible.
Conrad Groenewald, Chief Operating Officer of GWM South Africa, was speaking during a wide-ranging interview conducted in Cars.co.za’s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s recent South African Auto Week 2025 in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
“We aim to be in the top 5 – we’re working to get into the top 5. There are a few products in the cycle plan that we were hoping to bring to market by next year [2026]. I was informed a couple of weeks ago that 2 of those products are delayed to 2027 – it happens,” he told us.
“Now we’re fighting to get the right pricing for South Africa. I’m pretty convinced – with what we have in our product cycle plan, if we can get the pricing right to support South Africa’s current economic conditions – we can be in the top 5 by next year.
“If we don’t get the pricing we require, it might be a bit of a challenge, but I think at least it can keep us in the number 6 spot,” said Groenewald, who joined the company in 2022, referring to the automaker’s current year-to-date ranking.
In 2024, GWM SA – which, of course, also includes the Haval, P-Series, Tank and Ora sub-brands – suffered its 2nd consecutive year of sales decline, with local registrations slipping 4.9% to 18 927 units. Still, the firm retained 9th position, with its market share holding steady at 3.7%.
However, GWM has put in a far stronger performance in 2025, with the final quarter of the year still to come. In fact, year to date at the end of September 2025, the Chinese automaker finds itself in 6th position, having registered 19 410 units – more than it managed over the whole of 2024. That puts it 90 units ahead of Isuzu (7th) and 1 071 units ahead of fellow Chinese contender, Chery (8th).
By our maths, GWM is currently 6 190 units behind Ford – the company at which Groenewald spent more than 25 years – with the Blue Oval brand having slid from 2024’s ranking of 4th to a year-to-date position of 5th. We’ll continue watching the sales figures closely over the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, a year in which GWM will mark 19 years in the country…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is GWM South Africa’s sales target for 2026?
A: GWM South Africa aims to crack the list of South Africa’s top 5 automakers in 2026, according to its local boss, Conrad Groenewald.
Q: What does GWM South Africa’s COO say is key to achieving the top 5 goal?
A: Conrad Groenewald, COO of GWM South Africa, stated that achieving the top 5 ranking depends on getting the “pricing right” to support South Africa’s current economic conditions.
Q: Where does GWM currently rank in South African auto sales for 2025 year-to-date?
A: GWM is currently ranked 6th in South African auto sales year-to-date at the end of September 2025, having registered 19 410 units. This is an improvement from its 9th position in 2024.
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