Suzuki Swift and Jetour star in record setting January vehicle sales

Suzuki has emerged as the star performer in South Africa’s continuing record setting new vehicle sales.

Best-selling brands

With an offset of 6 410 units, the Hamamatsu-based brand retook its second place market standing behind Toyota, after loosing it to Volkswagen in December.

The former continued to lead on 11 786, with Volkswagen, whose sales also include those of Audi, placing on third on 4 774.

Unchanged from December were Hyundai and Ford in fourth and fifth places, the former moving 3 048 units and the latter, 2 678.

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Also staying as is from December were Great Wall Motors (GWM) and Chery – Baoding shifting 2 521 vehicles and Wuhu a total of 2 258.

Taking eighth place, Kia jumped a single notch from December with an offset of 1 888, while Mahindra returned to the top 10 with 1 671 vehicles moved.

Completing the top 10 was Isuzu on 1 606.

Just outside the top 10, Jetour continued its impressive form with an offset of 1 550, edging out fellow Chery-owned brand Omoda & Jaecoo by two places.

Top 15

1. Toyota – 11 786
2. Suzuki – 6 410
3. Volkswagen – 4 774
4. Hyundai – 3 048
5. Ford – 2 678
6. Great Wall Motors – 2 521
7. Chery – 2 258
8. Kia – 1 888
9. Mahindra – 1 671
10. Isuzu – 1 606
11. Jetour – 1 550
12. Renault – 1 415
13. Omoda & Jaecoo – 1 413
14. Nissan – 1 133
15. BMW – 1 094

Best-selling models

Out of the country’s best-sellers, the Toyota Hilux lead a locally produced top three on 2 475, followed by the Ford Ranger on 2 071, and the Volkswagen Polo Vivo on 2 060.

Finishing fourth as the best-selling imported vehicle was the Suzuki Swift on 2 029 – the only other vehicle to sell more than 2 000 units.

Having been the best-selling Chinese vehicle of 2025, the Chery Tiggo 4 completed the first five on 1 625.

Recording one of its best performances in recent memory, the Toyota Vitz raked in 1 514 to place it above the 1 374 amassed by the Hyundai Grand i10.

In eighth and ninth were the Toyota Starlet on 1 372 and the Isuzu D-Max on 1 331, respectively.

Completing a top 10 of imported vehicle heading locally assembled products by 6-4, was the GWM Haval Jolion on 1 172.

Month in detail

According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), sales for January rose 7.5% from last year’s 46 594 to 50 073 this year.

In total, this marks 16 months of continuous monthly increase.

The rest of the various segments, year-on-year, were as follows:

	Passenger Vehicle	Light Commercial Vehicle	Medium-Duty Commercial Vehicle	Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles	Exports
2025	34,710	9 903	n/a	n/a	24 432
2026	37 190	10 966	542	1 345	24 568
Variation	+7.1%	+11.0%	-5.9%	-4.3%	+0.6

January Top 50 best-sellers

1. Toyota Hilux – 2 475
2. Ford Ranger – 2 071
3. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 2 060
4. Suzuki Swift – 2 029
5. Chery Tiggo 4 – 1 625
6. Toyota Vitz – 1 514
7. Hyundai Grand i10 – 1 374
8. Toyota Starlet – 1 372
9. Isuzu D-Max – 1 331
10. GWM Haval Jolion – 1 172
11. Suzuki Fronx – 1 161
12. Toyota Starlet Cross – 1 119
13. Toyota Rumion – 1 049
14. Kia Sonet – 1 000
15. Suzuki Ertiga – 937
16. Omoda C5 – 907
17. Toyota Corolla Cross – 873
18. Nissan Magnite – 811
19. Mahindra Pik Up – 753
20. Volkswagen Polo – 738
21. Mahindra XUV 3X0 – 724
22. Jetour T2 – 665
23. Renault Triber – 602
24. Toyota HiAce – 593
25. Toyota Urban Cruiser – 592
26. Hyundai i20 – 550
27. Toyota Land Cruiser 70-series – 541
28. Volkswagen T-Cross – 540
29. GWM P-Series – 461
30. Toyota Fortuner – 443
31. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – 441
32. Suzuki Baleno – 440
33. Jetour T1 – 431
34. GWM Haval H6 – 408
35. Chery Tiggo 7 – 399
36. Renault Kwid – 381
37. Renault Kiger – 354
38. Suzuki S-Presso – 338
39. Volkswagen Amarok – 321
40. Suzuki Jimny – 312
41. Nissan Navara – 312
42. Suzuki DZire – 299
43. Ford Territory – 284
44. Hyundai Exter – 283
45. Jetour Dashing – 283
46. Kia Pegas – 268
47. Jaecoo J5 – 260
48. Volkswagen Tiguan – 260
49. GWM Tank 300 – 249

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