The Ford Ranger is the #1 vehicle in South Africa for the first time in 6 years.
The South African new vehicle market is flat again in April at -0.2% to 37,107 sales, leading to a year-to-date tally up 1.2% to 175,411. Passenger Cars are hit -6.1% to 24,174 units whereas Light Commercial Vehicles gain 11% to 10,611. 90.3% of sales are through the retail channel, 5.2% through the rental industry, 2.8% for corporate fleets and 1.7% for government sales. The lukewarm market conditions are predicted to continue for at least the remainder of the year as a new interest hike is expected in May as an effort to curb inflation.
Toyota (+5.3%) easily remains the best-selling manufacturer in the country with 25.4% share, selling more than double the #2, the VW Group (-8.7%). Suzuki (-2.1%) also dips in 3rd place whereas Ford (+42.9%) climbs up two spots on last month to #4. Hyundai (-16.7%), Nissan (-21.7%) and Kia (-23.4%) are in difficulty below, as is Renault (-43%). Isuzu (+38.1%) for its part manages the other double-digit gain in the Top 10 just as Haval closes out the Top 10. Newcomer Chery stays at #11.
There’s a big event in the models ranking: the Ford Ranger (+93.1%) doubles its sales year-on-year to topple the traditional leader, the Toyota Hilux (-21.6%), by just 14 sales. It is the first time since June 2017 that the Ranger is the best-selling vehicle in South Africa outright. This is despite a mass power blackout that left its Silverton Plant in the dark for two days. The VW Polo Vivo (-2.4%) is back up one spot on March to #3 as is the Toyota Corolla Cross (-9.9%) to #4. The Toyota Starlet (+115.3%), Hyundai Grand i10 (+94.3%) and Isuzu D-Max (+52.3%) also score significant YoY gains below. Finally notice the arrival of the new Toyota Vitz (a rebadged Suzuki Celerio) at #43, now the most affordable Toyota model in South Africa.
Previous month: South Africa March 2023: Isuzu D-Max climbs to #2, sales edge down -0.6%
One year ago: South Africa April 2022: Suzuki Swift up to #2, Renault Kiger in Top 10, sales up 4.3%
Full April 2023 Top 35 All manufacturers and Top 50 models below.
South Africa April 2023 – manufacturers:
| Pos | Manufacturer | Apr-23 | % | /22 | Mar | 2023 | % | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Toyota | 9,423 | 25.4% | 5.3% | 1 | 46,921 | 26.7% | -6.0% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Volkswagen Group | 4,644 | 12.5% | -8.7% | 2 | 21,152 | 12.1% | -8.3% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Suzuki | 3,620 | 9.8% | -2.1% | 3 | 16,020 | 9.1% | 18.5% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Ford | 2,804 | 7.6% | 42.9% | 6 | 9,957 | 5.7% | 29.1% | 6 | 7 |
| 5 | Hyundai | 2,371 | 6.4% | -16.7% | 4 | 10,643 | 6.1% | -13.8% | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Nissan | 1,681 | 4.5% | -21.7% | 5 | 10,792 | 6.2% | 12.7% | 4 | 5 |
| 7 | Kia | 1,546 | 4.2% | -23.4% | 10 | 6,908 | 3.9% | -3.7% | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | Isuzu | 1,433 | 3.9% | 38.1% | 7 | 7,708 | 4.4% | 31.3% | 7 | 10 |
| 9 | Renault | 1,367 | 3.7% | -43.0% | 8 | 7,588 | 4.3% | -18.4% | 8 | 6 |
| 10 | Haval | 1,367 | 3.7% | -1.9% | 9 | 6,472 | 3.7% | -18.3% | 10 | 8 |
| 11 | Chery | 1,179 | 3.2% | new | 11 | 5,389 | 3.1% | new | 11 | n/a |
| 12 | BMW Group | 966 | 2.6% | 19.0% | 13 | 4,983 | 2.8% | 22.6% | 12 | n/a |
| 13 | Mahindra | 809 | 2.2% | -11.3% | 12 | 4,605 | 2.6% | 9.2% | 13 | n/a |
| 14 | Mercedes | 556 | 1.5% | 3.5% | 14 | 2,736 | 1.6% | -8.5% | 14 | n/a |
| 15 | Daimler Trucks | 396 | 1.1% | 52.3% | 15 | 1,436 | 0.8% | 1.6% | 15 | n/a |
| 16 | Mazda | 312 | 0.8% | -27.1% | 16 | 1,435 | 0.8% | -30.8% | 16 | n/a |
| 17 | Stellantis | 302 | 0.8% | -42.3% | 19 | 1,360 | 0.8% | -40.4% | 17 | n/a |
| 18 | FAW Trucks | 286 | 0.8% | 51.3% | 20 | 1,080 | 0.6% | 45.6% | 21 | n/a |
| 19 | Jaguar Land Rover | 282 | 0.8% | 81.9% | 18 | 1,165 | 0.7% | 10.6% | 19 | n/a |
| 20 | Mitsubishi | 263 | 0.7% | -14.6% | 21 | 1,199 | 0.7% | 0.0% | 18 | n/a |
| 21 | Scania | 246 | 0.7% | 87.8% | 23 | 885 | 0.5% | 33.5% | 22 | n/a |
| 22 | Volvo Group | 189 | 0.5% | 8.6% | 24 | 809 | 0.5% | -11.2% | 23 | n/a |
| 23 | UD Trucks | 186 | 0.5% | -3.6% | 22 | 752 | 0.4% | -8.4% | 24 | n/a |
| 24 | Honda | 185 | 0.5% | -22.3% | 17 | 1,116 | 0.6% | -12.1% | 20 | n/a |
| 25 | Man | 161 | 0.4% | 21.1% | 25 | 626 | 0.4% | 11.0% | 25 | n/a |
| 26 | Volvo Cars | 110 | 0.3% | -28.1% | 29 | 387 | 0.2% | -18.5% | 26 | n/a |
| 27 | JAC | 92 | 0.2% | 0.0% | 28 | 349 | 0.2% | 79.0% | 28 | n/a |
| 28 | Porsche | 81 | 0.2% | 15.7% | 27 | 371 | 0.2% | -36.6% | 27 | n/a |
| 29 | Powerstar | 59 | 0.2% | -16.9% | 32 | 269 | 0.2% | -6.6% | 31 | n/a |
| 30 | Tata | 55 | 0.1% | -21.4% | 30 | 275 | 0.2% | -25.3% | 30 | n/a |
| 31 | Subaru | 52 | 0.1% | 246.7% | 31 | 263 | 0.1% | 4.8% | 32 | n/a |
| 32 | Iveco | 38 | 0.1% | -17.4% | 26 | 296 | 0.2% | 30.4% | 29 | n/a |
| 33 | VECV South Africa | 23 | 0.1% | -20.7% | 34 | 91 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 33 | n/a |
| 34 | Babcock | 20 | 0.1% | 5.3% | 33 | 73 | 0.0% | -50.3% | 34 | n/a |
| 35 | Ferrari (Scuderia) | 3 | 0.0% | -62.5% | 35 | 14 | 0.0% | -58.8% | 35 | n/a |
South Africa April 2023 – models:
| Pos | Model | Apr-23 | % | /22 | Mar | 2023 | % | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 2,201 | 4.4% | 93.1% | 3 | 7,523 | 4.3% | 104.5% | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | Toyota Hilux | 2,187 | 4.4% | -21.6% | 1 | 12,211 | 7.0% | -10.6% | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | VW Polo Vivo | 1,510 | 3.0% | -2.4% | 4 | 6,093 | 3.5% | -8.7% | 5 | 2 |
| 4 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 1,281 | 2.6% | -9.9% | 5 | 6,845 | 3.9% | -0.1% | 3 | 7 |
| 5 | Toyota Hiace | 1,267 | 2.5% | 16.9% | 6 | 5,444 | 3.1% | 10.7% | 7 | 11 |
| 6 | Suzuki Swift | 1,216 | 2.4% | -25.0% | 10 | 5,330 | 3.0% | 4.1% | 8 | 6 |
| 7 | Isuzu D-Max | 1,183 | 2.4% | 52.3% | 2 | 6,492 | 3.7% | 38.2% | 4 | 4 |
| 8 | Toyota Starlet | 1,098 | 2.2% | 115.3% | 9 | 5,722 | 3.3% | 18.4% | 6 | 9 |
| 9 | Nissan NP200 | 910 | 1.8% | -5.8% | 8 | 4,492 | 2.6% | 19.5% | 9 | 10 |
| 10 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 853 | 1.7% | 94.3% | 13 | 3,183 | 1.8% | 64.6% | 13 | n/a |
| 11 | VW Polo | 777 | 1.5% | -41.1% | 11 | 3,744 | 2.1% | -30.6% | 10 | 8 |
| 12 | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro | 708 | 1.4% | new | 15 | 3,438 | 2.0% | new | 11 | n/a |
| 13 | Toyota Fortuner | 695 | 1.4% | 12.5% | 7 | 3,338 | 1.9% | -4.8% | 12 | n/a |
| 14 | Haval Jolion | 677 | 1.3% | -8.0% | 14 | 3,069 | 1.7% | -2.0% | 16 | 14 |
| 15 | Renault Kiger | 625 | 1.2% | -32.9% | 17 | 2,813 | 1.6% | 24.9% | 17 | 15 |
| 16 | Suzuki Baleno | 554 | 1.1% | n/a | 22 | 2,443 | 1.4% | n/a | 18 | n/a |
| 17 | Toyota Agya | 551 | 1.1% | 149.3% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 18 | Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up | 548 | 1.1% | 19.7% | 12 | 3,177 | 1.8% | 24.4% | 14 | n/a |
| 19 | VW T-Cross | 492 | 1.0% | -35.3% | 16 | 3,105 | 1.8% | -4.0% | 15 | 12 |
| 20 | Kia Sonet | 454 | 0.9% | 12.7% | 20 | 1,900 | 1.1% | 170.3% | 23 | n/a |
| 21 | Nissan Magnite | 430 | 0.9% | 8.9% | 19 | 2,419 | 1.4% | 33.4% | 19 | n/a |
| 22 | Suzuki Ertiga | 412 | 0.8% | 11.4% | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 23 | Suzuki S-Presso | 391 | 0.8% | 13.3% | 33 | 1,707 | 1.0% | 10.4% | 27 | n/a |
| 24 | Kia Picanto | 385 | 0.8% | -34.4% | 34 | 1,866 | 1.1% | -11.2% | 24 | n/a |
| 25 | Toyota Land Cruiser 70/PU | 381 | 0.8% | 82.3% | 30 | 1,674 | 1.0% | 118.3% | 28 | n/a |
| 26 | Haval H6 | 357 | 0.7% | n/a | 23 | 1,845 | 1.1% | n/a | 25 | n/a |
| 27 | Renault Triber | 349 | 0.7% | -31.2% | 25 | 2,281 | 1.3% | -0.6% | 21 | n/a |
| 28 | Toyota Rumion | 345 | 0.7% | 16.2% | 24 | 1,555 | 0.9% | 5.6% | n/a | n/a |
| 29 | Hyundai i20 | 343 | 0.7% | 86.4% | 21 | 1,938 | 1.1% | 81.3% | 22 | n/a |
| 30 | VW Amarok | 339 | 0.7% | 109.3% | 31 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 31 | Hyundai Venue | 338 | 0.7% | -52.0% | 38 | 1,428 | 0.8% | -44.9% | n/a | n/a |
| 32 | Toyota Corolla Quest | 328 | 0.7% | 17.6% | 18 | 2,312 | 1.3% | 9.0% | 20 | n/a |
| 33 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 317 | 0.6% | -48.3% | n/a | 1,642 | 0.9% | -60.8% | 29 | 5 |
| 34 | Chery Tiggo 7 Pro | 312 | 0.6% | new | 32 | n/a | n/a | new | n/a | n/a |
| 35 | VW Tiguan | 278 | 0.6% | n/a | 36 | 1,493 | 0.9% | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 36 | Renault Kwid | 273 | 0.5% | -64.5% | 29 | 1,766 | 1.0% | -49.1% | 26 | 13 |
| 37 | GWM P-Series | 257 | 0.5% | -2.3% | 35 | 1,160 | 0.7% | -37.8% | n/a | n/a |
| 38 | Suzuki Jimny | 255 | 0.5% | -48.9% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 39 | VW Polo Sedan | 247 | 0.5% | -55.7% | 37 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 40 | Ford Everest | 242 | 0.5% | 47.6% | 39 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 41 | Nissan NP300 Navara | 218 | 0.4% | -49.9% | 27 | 1,625 | 0.9% | -16.9% | 30 | n/a |
| 42 | Ford Ecosport | 216 | 0.4% | -64.7% | 40 | 1,188 | 0.7% | -58.9% | n/a | n/a |
| 43 | Toyota Vitz | 186 | 0.4% | new | – | 186 | 0.1% | new | n/a | – |
| 44 | Suzuki Celerio | 182 | 0.4% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 45 | VW Caddy | 173 | 0.3% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 46 | Kia Seltos | 159 | 0.3% | -42.2% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 47 | Hyundai Creta | 159 | 0.3% | 6.7% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 48 | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro | 159 | 0.3% | new | n/a | n/a | n/a | new | n/a | n/a |
| 49 | Hyundai H100 Bakkie | 158 | 0.3% | -24.4% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 50 | Kia Rio | 155 | 0.3% | -3.1% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Source: NAAMSA
