By Selloane Ntshonyane
- The Automotive Business Council said 50,073 vehicles were sold in South Africa in January 2026, up 7.5% from last year.
- The council said vehicle demand improved because of lower inflation, a stable economy and consumers still willing to buy goods.
South Africans bought more new vehicles at the start of 2026 as the economy became more stable and people continued spending money on big purchases.
The Automotive Business Council (Naamsa) released new figures on Monday showing that a total of 50,073 vehicles were sold in South Africa in January 2026. This is an increase of 7.5% compared to the 46,594 vehicles sold in January 2025.
Naamsa said the strong performance shows that the growth seen in 2025 has continued into the new year. The council said lower inflation, a more stable economy and consumers who are still willing to spend helped drive up demand for vehicles.
Most vehicles were sold through car dealerships. Dealer sales made up 85.4% of all vehicles sold in January. Car rental companies bought 10.9% of vehicles, corporate fleets bought 2.1% and government purchases made up 1.6%.
Passenger car sales increased as well. About 37,190 new cars were sold in January, which is 7.1% more than the same period last year. Sales to car rental companies made up 13.3% of all passenger vehicles sold during the month.
Light commercial vehicles like bakkies and minibuses also performed well. Sales rose by 11% with 10,996 units sold. Naamsa said this shows signs of gradual improvement in business and goods-producing sectors across South Africa.
However, sales of medium and heavy trucks declined slightly during January. Medium commercial vehicle sales dropped by 5.9%. Heavy truck and bus sales fell by 4.3%.
Vehicle exports increased slightly to 24,568 units, up 0.6% from last year. But Naamsa warned that growing trade restrictions in some export markets could affect future exports.
Looking ahead, Naamsa said stable inflation, possible interest rate cuts and a stronger rand could continue to support vehicle sales. The council also stressed the importance of finalising South Africa’s automotive policy framework to protect jobs and attract investment in the long term.
Pictured above: New vehicles.
Image source: Naamsa
