Isuzu D-Max the biggest winner of September record vehicle sales month

South Africa’s new vehicle sales recorded not only its 23rd month of consecutive increases in September, but after numerous attempts, finally breached sales of 60 000 units for the first time

D-Max surprises

In a further uptake from August, 15 models sold more than 1 000 units, once again headed by the Toyota Hilux with 3 769 and the Volkswagen Polo Vivo with 2 553.

While the top two remained unchanged from August, the Isuzu D-Max emerged as the biggest top 10 gainer, jumping three places from sixth to third with an offset of 2 551 units.

This saw it displace the Ford Ranger as the second best-selling bakkie behind the Hilux, with the Blue Oval’s offering dropping a notch from third in August to fourth in September on 2 502.

Also falling down one place from fourth to fifth, the combination of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and Tiggo Cross, under the Tiggo 4 banner, remained the best-selling imported and Chinese vehicle on 2 251.

Taking sixth place, one down from August, the Suzuki Swift registered 2 012 sales, followed by the Toyota Corolla Cross, which stayed seventh on 1 964.

In eighth place, the Toyota Starlet swapped places with the Hyundai Grand i10 with respective sales of 1 573 and 1 526.

Completing an even split between imported and locally produced vehicles in the top 10, the Toyota Starlet Cross jumped two places from August’s 12^th to finish 10^th in September on 1 478.

Best-selling brands

Out of the best-selling brands, Toyota’s offset rose from August’s 13 814 to 15 366, with Suzuki’s tally also rising to 6 668 from 6 505.

Inclusive of Audi, Volkswagen kept its third place standing on 5 968, up from August’s 5 668, while Ford remained fourth on 3 190.

Staying steady in fifth, Hyundai recorded an offset of 3 057, while the performance of the D-Max saw Isuzu displace both Chery and Great Wall Motors (GWM) to finish September in sixth place on 3 022.

Wuhu-based Chery remained the best-selling Chinese brand, though on 3 004, with its rival from Baoding placing eighth on 2 700.

The former’s Jetour division kept its position in ninth place on 2 036, with the same applying to Kia, which again finished 10^th on 1 840.

Top 15

• Toyota – 15 366
• Suzuki – 6 668
• Volkswagen – 5 968
• Ford – 3 190
• Hyundai – 3 057
• Isuzu – 3 022
• Chery – 3 004
• Great Wall Motors (GWM) – 2 700
• Jetour – 2 036
• Kia – 1 840
• Renault – 1 711
• Omoda & Jaecoo – 1 503
• Mahindra – 1 398
• BMW – 1 396
• Tata – 883

Month in detail

Amid higher international oil prices and a 25 basis point hike in the repo rate by the Reserve Bank, August saw vehicle sales crest 60 000 units.

According to the September figures by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), sales increased by 12.7% from last year’s 54 706 to 61 645.

The rest of the various segments were as follows:

	Passenger Vehicles	Light Commercial Vehicles	Medium-Duty Commercial Vehicles	Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles	Exports
2025	38 615	13 099	763	2 229	38 782
2026	44 291	14 361	789	2 204	31 473
Variation	+14.7%	+9.6%	+3.4	–	-18.1%

September Top 50 best-sellers

1. Toyota Hilux – 3 769
2. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 2 553*
3. Isuzu D-Max – 2 551
4. Ford Ranger – 2 502
5. Chery Tiggo 4 – 2 251#
6. Suzuki Swift – 2 012
7. Toyota Corolla Cross – 1 964
8. Toyota Starlet – 1 573
9. Hyundai Grand i10 – 1 526*
10. Toyota Starlet Cross – 1 478
11. GWM Haval Jolion – 1 351
12. Toyota Urban Cruiser – 1 328
13. Suzuki Ertiga – 1 270
14. Suzuki Fronx – 1 184
15. Volkswagen Polo – 1 005
16. Toyota Vitz – 949
17. Omoda C5 – 936
18. Toyota Fortuner – 908
19. Kia Sonet – 838
20. Jetour T2 – 757
21. Toyota HiAce – 649
22. Toyota Rumion – 642
23. Volkswagen T-Cross – 596
24. Jetour Dashing – 584
25. Renault Triber – 578*
26. Mahindra XUV 3X0 – 575*
27. Renault Kwid – 528
28. Mahindra Pik Up – 521
29. GWM P Series – 517#
30. Suzuki Baleno – 511
31. Tata Tiago – 490
32. Hyundai i20 – 479
33. Nissan Magnite – 479
34. Renault Kiger – 463
35. Toyota Land Cruiser 70-series – 452#
36. Jetour T1 – 441
37. Volkswagen Amarok – 430
38. BMW X3 – 425
39. Jaecoo J5 – 410
40. Ford Territory – 399
41. Chery Tiggo 7 – 392
42. GWM Haval H6 – 385
43. Suzuki DZire – 370
44. Hyundai Exter – 362*
45. Kia Seltos – 352
46. Citroën C3 – 321
47. Suzuki Across – 305
48. Toyota RAV4 – 290
49. Suzuki S-Presso – 280
50. Toyota Land Cruiser FJ – 278
    Note:
    *: Includes commercial variants
    #: Combination of two models