Johannesburg, 12 September 2025 – South Africa’s automotive landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past ten years, and next week the country’s leading digital automotive marketplace will put that evolution under the spotlight. Cars.co.za is set to debut its first-ever Industry Report at DealerCon 2025, an inaugural conference themed SHIFT: A Decade of Change and designed to examine the forces redefining the motor industry while charting the road ahead.
This comprehensive report—powered by Cars.co.za’s proprietary market data and enriched with finance and consumer insights from TransUnion—offers the most detailed snapshot yet of how shifting consumer preferences, affordability pressures and ambitious new entrants are reshaping South Africa’s automotive market.
“Periods of disruption can feel daunting, but history tells us they are also when the strongest businesses emerge,” says Amasi Mwela, Managing Director of Cars.co.za. “With sharper strategies and stronger partnerships, our industry can seize the opportunities ahead.”
A Decade of Change: From Sedans to SUVs
The numbers tell a story of profound consumer evolution. Since 2015, the SUV and crossover segment has more than doubled, while traditional sedans have lost over 60% of their share. Double-cab bakkies have surged 71.3%, cementing their status as lifestyle symbols and not merely workhorses.
Transmission preferences have shifted just as dramatically: a decade ago only 25% of double-cabs were automatics; today over 70% are. Yet amid these upheavals, certain icons remain unshaken—Toyota’s Hilux continues to dominate new-vehicle sales and the Volkswagen Polo remains the undisputed champion of the used-car market.
The Chinese Surge: A Market Redefined
Perhaps the most striking change is the meteoric rise of Chinese brands. In 2015, Chinese vehicles accounted for a negligible fraction of Cars.co.za stock. Today they command 6.45%, representing a staggering 749% increase.
Brands such as Chery, Haval, Omoda, Jaecoo and Jetour have rapidly captured market share through aggressive pricing, generous specifications and astute marketing, particularly in the fiercely competitive compact crossover segment. Crucially, their products are defying expectations by delivering residual values comparable to established legacy brands—a key factor driving consumer confidence.
Today’s Market: Crowded, Pressured, Data-Driven
The report drills down to specific makes and models in demand across every price band. At the entry level, Volkswagen’s Polo and Polo Vivo, Hyundai’s i20 and Grand i10, and the Suzuki Swift continue to lead. Above R300 000, only hatchbacks wearing the Volkswagen GTI badge attract notable attention.
Affordable seven-seaters—Suzuki’s Ertiga and Toyota’s Rumion—are booming, fuelled by ride-hailing and family demand. At the luxury end, Mercedes-Benz V-Class and Volkswagen Caravelle highlight the enduring appeal of versatile people-movers.
Even discontinued half-tonne bakkies such as the Nissan NP200 and Chevrolet Utility remain sought after on the used market. Among Chinese newcomers, the GWM Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4 Pro have already cracked the national new-vehicle Top 10, although their used-market presence still lags—evidence of both natural market maturation and the price pressure these aggressively priced new models place on used vehicles.
Cross-consideration data adds a fascinating layer: South Africans are increasingly cross-shopping across body styles. Double-cab bakkies are not only alternatives to SUVs but even to premium sedans such as the BMW 3 Series or Volkswagen Polo, reinforcing their status as aspirational utility vehicles.
NEVs and Powertrain Trends
The Industry Report devotes a special section to new-energy vehicles (NEVs). The Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid stands as South Africa’s breakout success, proving that affordability and trusted brand equity can unlock mainstream hybrid adoption.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), by contrast, remain niche—hindered by high pricing, limited model availability and infrastructure constraints. Yet Chinese brands are poised to accelerate the segment’s growth with a wave of more affordable hybrids and compact BEVs.
Meanwhile, diesel remains resilient. Despite global trends, South African demand for turbodiesel double-cabs is robust, with double-cab interest up more than 70% since 2015.
Affordability Under the Microscope
Insights from Cars.co.za and TransUnion highlight the stark reality of car ownership costs. The cheapest new car today, the Suzuki S-Presso at R178 900, is nearly twice the price of the entry-level Chery QQ3 in 2015—even after adjusting for inflation.
To finance a base-level car on standard terms, a buyer now needs a net monthly salary of R21 900, far above South Africa’s average net salary of R18 000. The result: a steady decline in first-time vehicle finance agreements as banks tighten lending criteria.
“Data tells the story long before headlines do,” observes Lee Naik, CEO of TransUnion Africa. “This report is not just a reflection of the past decade—it’s a compass for the journey ahead.”
A New Era of Insight for Dealers
DealerCon 2025, taking place on 17 September 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre, brings these insights to life. The conference will feature keynote talks and panel discussions with some of the industry’s most influential leaders, including:
- Amasi Mwela (MD, Cars.co.za)
- Lee Naik (CEO, TransUnion Africa)
- Mikel Mabasa (CEO, naamsa)
- Faan van der Walt (CEO, WeBuyCars)
- Brandon Cohen (Chairperson, NADA)
- Claudine Ebrahim (Executive for Car Sales, Avis Budget SA)
- Carla Seppings (CEO, Bidvest Automotive)
- Charl Potgieter (Managing Executive, ABSA Vehicle & Asset Finance)
- Tony Liu (Executive Deputy GM, Chery South Africa)
- Gideon Jansen van Rensburg (CEO, Motus SA Retail)
- Lebo Rakgekola (Department Executive for Sales, Isuzu)
- Ghana Msibi (CEO, WesBank)
- Wiehahn Koch (Head, Purpose Lending Division, Capitec Bank)
- With a special keynote by Vusi Thembekwayo, global business speaker and entrepreneur.
For South African dealers and automotive stakeholders, the Cars.co.za Industry Report is more than a retrospective—it is a strategic roadmap for the next decade. By blending hard data with deep consumer and finance insights, it equips industry players to anticipate change, adapt their strategies and seize the opportunities of an automotive market in flux.
