FX.co ★ South Africa Auto Sales See Best September Since 2015

In September 2025, vehicle sales in South Africa saw a substantial year-on-year increase of 24.3%, with a total of 54,700 units sold—marking the highest September sales since 2015. New passenger car sales experienced a significant rise of 28%, reaching 38,603 units, the highest since October 2014. Sales of light commercial vehicles within the domestic market climbed 19.7% to 13,078 units. Meanwhile, heavy trucks and buses saw an uplift of 5.9% to 2,252 units, although medium trucks saw a slight decline of 1.9%, totaling 767 units sold. Vehicle exports also skyrocketed by 32.9% compared to the previous year, with 38,772 units dispatched internationally. According to Naamsa, year-to-date exports are now 6% higher compared to 2024, highlighting the industry's resilience in the face of global supply chain issues and US automotive tariffs. The president of the industry association remarked that domestic new vehicle sales are poised to exceed pre-pandemic figures for the first time in five years, driven by robust consumer demand for affordable vehicles.