August 2026 has showed a positive uptake in the new vehicle market in terms of momentum with aggregate sales increasing by 11,4% year-on-year to 57,898 units. However, vehicle imports declined by a significant percentage reinforcing the need to strengthen industrial competitiveness and translate improving domestic demand into local production, localisation, investment and employment.
The month of August documents a rise in NEVs sales
A highlight for the positive new vehicle market momentum comes from the rise of New Energy Vehicle sales. Naamsa states that the sale of NEVs has already equaled to 97,5% of total 2025 NEV sales and is above the 15,596 units recorded in 2024. This is thanks to a good performance at the start of this year, having registered 16,289 NEVs sales in the first seven months of 2026. The year-to-date mix comprises 8,078 hybrids, 5,851 plug-in hybrids and 2,360 battery electric vehicles, showing that consumers are adopting multiple electrified technology pathways.
Overall, out of the total reported industry sales of 57,898 vehicles, an estimated 47,364 units, or 81,8%, represented dealer sales, an estimated 13,4% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, 2,4% to government sales, and 2,4% to industry corporate fleets.
The August 2026 new passenger car market reached 41,216 units, reflecting an increase of 4,269 units, or 11,6%, compared to the 36,947 new cars sold in August 2025. Car rental sales accounted for 17,2% of new passenger vehicles sold during the month. Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles (bakkies and mini-buses) reached 13,727 units during August 2026, recording an increase of 1,358 units, or 11,0%, compared to the 12,369 units sold in August 2025.
Sales in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segments reflected positive structural dynamics. Medium commercial vehicles reached 805 units in August 2026, showing a gain of 113 units, or 16,3%, compared to the 692 units sold in August 2025; while heavy trucks and buses at 2,150 units in August 2026 reflected a gain of 198 units, or 10,1%, compared to the 1,952 units sold in August 2025.
Vehicle export sales reached 35,091 units, a downward shift of 4,742 units, or 11,9%, compared to the 39,833 units exported in the corresponding month last year.
Top 10 best selling brands in the month of August
1. Toyota – 13 814 units
2. Suzuki – 6 505 units
3. Volkswagen Group – 5 668 units
4. Ford – 3 202 units
5. Hyundai – 3 034 units
6. Chery – 2 763 units
7. GWM – 2 594 units
8. Isuzu – 2 531 units
9. Jetour – 1 952 units
10. Kia – 1 783 units
In a shot of surprise, Tata Motors PV SA made it in to the top 15 for the first time, with 853 units registered in August. So, which automakers did not make the top 10 in August? Well, Renault SA (1 702 units) climbed 2 places to 11th this month, finishing just in front of 12th-placed Mahindra SA (1 563 units) who were in the same spot in July. The Omoda & Jaecoo SA pair (1 305 units) fell to 13th, while BMW Group SA (on a Naamsa-estimated 1 299 units, including the Mini brand) held their place at 14th.