In 2023, South Africa’s new-vehicle market saw as many as 9 nameplates each managing just 1 or 2 registrations. Meet Mzansi’s single-digit cars: the 9 least commonly registered models of the year…
We’ve already examined South Africa’s best-selling passenger vehicles and most popular bakkies for 2023 (not to mention the top 10 automakers), so now it’s time to turn our attention to the other end of the table. So, which were Mzansi least commonly registered models last year?
Before we dive into the figures, we should point out that there are, of course, a number of potential reasons that these models find themselves on the list. For instance, a couple were imported to South Africa for “consideration” but didn’t end up being sold here. Others have technically not yet launched, while more still have been discontinued (so, little stock was available).
One such example is the Haval H9, which ended 2023 with just 2 registrations – both of which came in January. As a reminder, Haval’s 7-seater adventure SUV was axed in South Africa around the middle of 2022 (though there’s a new model on the way), so stock had clearly run dry by early in 2023.
The Kia Carens likewise finished the year on 2 units, though the crossover-styled 3-row MPV actually wasn’t available for purchase in SA. Yes, Kia South Africa registered this pair of 4th-generation Carens units in August, confirming to Cars.co.za that they were brought into the country for “homologation, study and consideration” but would “not be introduced”.
Meanwhile, 2 examples of the Ferrari Portofino M – which has since been supplanted by the Roma Spider – were sold in Mzansi last year, along with a single unit of the GWM Tank 300 (registered for use by Haval Motors SA). As the reminder, the Tank 300 was scheduled to launch locally in 2023 but has been delayed to this year.
Then there’s the Haval H2, which is perhaps the most puzzling model on this list. A single unit was sold in South Africa last year despite the fact this nameplate was discontinued locally way back in the opening quarter of 2021, when the Jolion arrived as its replacement. We can only speculate that this previously unregistered H2 had been tucked away in a dark corner of some or other dealership for a couple of years.
Meanwhile, 1 example of the fully electric Kia EV6 – like the Carens, a model that is not currently on offer locally – was registered in May (again, for use by Kia SA). According to Naamsa, just 1 unit of the Ferrari Purosangue was sold in South Africa across the year, with the single sale reported in December.
Finally, the Lexus LS – a nameplate that has since been axed locally, alongside the RC F – settled for a single sale last year, as did the Volvo V90 Cross Country (a high-riding wagon that is, we should point out, technically available locally only on special order).
9 least commonly registered vehicles in SA in 2023
Haval H9 – 2 units
Kia Carens – 2 units
Ferrari Portofino M – 2 units
GWM Tank – 1 unit
Haval H2 – 1 unit
Kia EV6 – 1 unit
Ferrari Purosangue – 1 unit
Lexus LS – 1 unit
Volvo V90 Cross Country – 1 unit
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