Ready to bet on SA’s fastest-selling workhorses?

Let’s celebrate SA’s fastest selling workhorses in honour of 30 years of Workers’ Day in South Africa.

These workhorses consist of three body types: single-cab bakkies, panel vans and sedans (utilised as taxis). An analysis of the data concerning these body types on AutoTrader for Q1 2024 reveals some intriguing findings.

When it comes to single-cab bakkies, for instance, the most sold used vehicle is the Nissan NP200 (average selling price of R169 783), while the fastest-selling bakkie is the Chevrolet Utility (average selling price of R136 814). It’s noteworthy that neither vehicle is still sold new in South Africa.

Nissan ceased production of the NP200 in South Africa at the end of March this year, while General Motors ceased local manufacturing and selling of Chevrolet vehicles in South Africa at the end of 2017.

However, the unavailability of new vehicles hasn’t deterred buyers of used bakkies. In the panel van sector, the fastest-selling used vehicle is the Ford Transit Custom (average price of R407 236), while the most sold is the Volkswagen Caddy (average price of R229 637).

The popularity of the Ford Transit Custom comes as no surprise; Ford Pro’s new Transit Custom is the reigning International Van of the Year, and the Custom is exceptionally successful in many of the markets in which it competes. In the United Kingdom, for instance, it has regularly been the top-selling vehicle in the country (out of all vehicles, not just out of vans).

The Caddy, on the other hand, also has a well-stocked trophy cabinet. Recent accolades include the Small Van of the Year title at the Company Car and Van Awards 2022 and Best Compact High-cube Van title at the Fleet World Awards 2022.

Turning to sedans, the BMW 3 Series is both the fastest-selling vehicle and the most sold within this body type. It is sold for an average price of R377 870, with an average mileage of 102 159 km and an average age of eight years old. Since the debut of the original 3 Series in 1975, BMW has sold well over 16 million of these cars – renowned for their engaging driving dynamics – worldwide, including in South Africa.

While Workers’ Day was all about celebrating human achievements, it is evident that these iconic automotive workhorses have many accomplishments worth praising, too.

Source: Nikki Chennells / AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 January – 31 March 2024