The first month of the new year has come and gone and that means that we are fed some good ol' vehicle sales numbers courtesy of Naamsa and Wesbank.
The January 2026 new passenger car market at 37,190 units recorded an increase of 2,480 units, or 7,1%, compared to the 34,710 new cars sold in January 2025. Car rental sales accounted for 13,3%, of new passenger vehicles sold during the month. Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles (bakkies and mini-buses) at 10,996 units during January 2026 recorded an 11,0% increase compared to the 9,903 units sold in January 2025. naamsa noted light commercial vehicles demand continues to track broader conditions in the goods-producing sectors of the economy, which remain constrained but show signs of gradual stabilisation.
“Looking at successive January numbers tells the story better than any single month,” says Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank. “January 2024 was defined by restraint, January 2025 by recovery and January 2026 by consolidation. What we’re seeing now is a market that has stabilised, not overheated.”
Aggregate domestic new vehicle sales in January 2026, at 50,073, reflected an increase of 3,479 units, or a gain of 7,5%, compared to the 46,594 vehicles sold in January 2025. Export sales increased to 24,568 units, representing a gain of 136 units, or 0,6%, compared to the 24,432 vehicles exported in January 2025.
“The repo rate held holding at 6.75% in January and looming potential cuts in March should give consumers some cautious optimism. If the Rand's appreciation to multi-year highs against the dollar remains stable, it will help moderate vehicle prices. The presence of competitive imports will also continue to give buyers diverse options across segments,” says Gaoaketse.
Overall, out of the total reported industry sales of 50,073 vehicles, an estimated 42,753 units, or 85,4%, represented dealer sales, an estimated 10,9% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry, 2,1% to industry corporate fleets, and 1,6% to government sales.
Gaoaketse says, “The market has positioned itself well for 2026, but important decisions lie ahead. Tariff decisions often have significant ripple effects. Ensuring the continued growth of the sector means balancing the needs of the consumer and the industry. Given the current volatile nature of the global market-place, it will be a fine line to walk for policy makers.”
Looking ahead, naamsa says that the industry is waiting in anticipation of the complete comprehensive review of South Africa’s automotive policy framework, which is vital for the sector’s long-term competitiveness, investment attractiveness, and resilience. In an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global automotive environment - characterised by technological disruption, shifting trade alliances, and accelerated energy transition pathways - a coherent, forward-looking policy framework remains critical to secure South Africa’s position within global and regional automotive value chains.
These are the top 10 best selling vehicles brand in Mzansi for the month of January 2026 :
1. Toyota – 11 786 units
2. Suzuki – 6 410 units
3. Volkswagen Group – 4 774 units
4. Hyundai – 3 048 units
5. Ford – 2 678 units
6. GWM – 2 521 units
7. Chery – 2 258 units
8. Kia – 1 888 units
9. Mahindra – 1 671 units
10. Isuzu – 1 606 units
Jetour fell out of the top 10 by just a few, as they managed to move 1,550 units. Behind them is Renault, which moved 1,415 units, and snapping at their heels are the OMODA and Jaecoo bunch at 1,413 units. After news of the Chery plant acquisition, Nissan makes an appearance at No.14 with 1,133 units sold, and at the 15th spot are the Bavarians, BMW Group, at 1,094.