January 2026 new vehicle sales start strong: These were the 15 top-selling carmakers
Toyota enjoyed its usual dominant lead with the company selling a total of 11,786 vehicles.
Image: Supplied
Following a buoyant 2025 that saw new vehicle sales reach 10-year highs, 2026 has kicked off on a positive note for the industry, with sales increasing by 7.5% year-on-year, according to Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.
A total of 50,073 new vehicles were sold last month, representing an increase of 3,479 units over the same month in 2025. 85.4% of these sales took place through dealer channels, while the rental industry accounted for 10.9%, followed by industry fleets (2.1%) and government sales (1.6%).
Passenger vehicle sales increased by 7.1% year-on-year, to 34,710 units, while the light commercial vehicle and bakkie market, at 10,996, grew by an impressive 11.0% after a sluggish year marked by the absence of Nissan’s NP200.
Medium and heavy vehicle sales, on the other hand, decreased by 5.9% and 4.3%, respectively.
Vehicle exports also started the year on a semi-positive note, with a volume of 24,568 units representing a gain of 0.6%.
Naamsa noted that the proliferation of trade-restrictive measures and evolving industrial policies in advanced economies is testing South Africa’s export competitiveness.
However, the domestic market continues to display solid fundamentals.
“The January 2026 performance reflects not merely a carry-over or base effect, but a material improvement in underlying demand conditions, supported by moderating inflation, stable macroeconomic variables, and a resilient consumer base,” Naamsa said.
The SARB has reiterated its objective of achieving a permanent inflation settlement at 3% by 2026, providing a critical anchor for pricing, investment, and long-term financing decisions.
“Although the Monetary Policy Committee [MPC] maintained the repo rate at 6.75% at its January 2026 meeting, the split decision signalled growing confidence that the easing cycle has been delayed rather than derailed,” Naamsa added.
On the manufacturer sales charts, Toyota posted an impressive total of 11,786 units, followed by Suzuki, Volkswagen and Honda.
Top Vehicle Manufacturers: January 2026
- Toyota - 11,786
- Suzuki Auto - 6,410
- Volkswagen - 4,774
- Hyundai - 3,048
- Ford - 2,678
- GWM SA - 2,521
- Chery Auto - 2,258
- Kia - 1,888
- Mahindra - 1,671
- Isuzu - 1,606
- Jetour - 1,550
- Renault - 1,415
- Omoda & Jaecoo - 1,413
- Nissan - 1,133
- BMW - 1,094
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