South Africa’s total vehicle sales growth slowed significantly in January 2026, with year-on-year expansion easing to 7.50%, down from a robust 19.20% in December 2025. The latest data, updated on 2 February 2026, reflect a notable deceleration in momentum at the start of the new year.
Both the current and previous figures are measured on a year-over-year basis, comparing each month’s vehicle sales to the same month a year earlier. While December 2025 showed strong base-driven growth relative to December 2024, January 2026 indicates that the sector’s expansion, though still positive, has moderated compared with January 2025.
The sharp slowdown may signal a normalization in demand following a strong year-end performance, or shifting conditions in consumer spending and credit appetite. Market participants and analysts are likely to watch upcoming monthly releases closely to assess whether January’s weaker growth is a temporary pullback or the start of a more persistent cooling in South Africa’s automotive market.
