Johannesburg – July 2025
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has solidified its position at the forefront of the South African automotive market with a commanding sales performance in June 2025. Bolstered by a surge in demand for its flagship Hilux and the locally produced Corolla Cross, TSAM achieved a remarkable 24.7% market share—reaffirming its role as the nation’s most trusted mobility brand.
With 11,690 new Toyota vehicles finding homes in June, the brand’s success echoes the latest naamsa statistics, which confirm an 18.7% year-on-year increase in total domestic new vehicle sales—rising from 39,850 units in June 2024 to 47,294 units this year. New passenger car sales alone soared by 21.7%, reaching 32,570 units, while the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment saw a solid 14.9% increase to 12,129 units.
Commenting on Toyota’s performance, Leon Theron, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at TSAM, said,
“The current automotive landscape is challenging, but the June results from naamsa’s vehicle statistics display great momentum that the industry has been able to sustain. For our operations, the strong demand for the locally manufactured Hilux and Corolla Cross drove Toyota’s continued dominance in South Africa’s competitive new vehicle market.”
Corolla Cross Leads the Pack
Toyota’s passenger vehicle division was instrumental in driving its record performance. In a standout achievement, the Corolla Cross emerged as South Africa’s top-selling passenger vehicle, with over 2,000 units sold. This success further cements the Corolla Cross as a cornerstone of local production and a favourite among South African motorists.
Other notable nameplates included:
- Toyota Fortuner – 878 units (9th best-selling passenger vehicle)
- Toyota Starlet – 852 units (10th place)
- Toyota Vitz – 794 units, up by 170 units from May, continuing its impressive comeback
- Lexus – 104 units, led by the NX (34 units) and GX (33 units)
Hilux Continues to Dominate LCV Market
The Toyota Hilux, South Africa’s perennial bakkie favourite, reaffirmed its reign in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment with a 26.3% market share and 3,032 units sold in June. It was closely followed by the Land Cruiser 79 Pick-Up (591 units) and Toyota Hiace (524 units), both securing top spots in the LCV rankings.
In the medium and heavy truck categories, Toyota Hino’s 500 and 700 Series posted combined sales of 139 units—marking an improvement from the previous month, even as the overall segment remained mixed.
Record Fleet Sales & Dealer Performance
June 2025 also marked Toyota’s best fleet sales month of the year, with 3,931 units sold to business customers through the Toyota dealer network. Standout fleet contributors included the Corolla Cross, Hilux Extra Cab, Fortuner, and Land Cruiser Pick-Up—vehicles long admired by SMEs for their durability and total cost of ownership.
“In June, we saw encouraging growth from small and medium-sized enterprises, which are increasingly trusting Toyota for their fleet needs,” Theron added. “This performance reflects continued confidence in our vehicles, value, and long-term reliability.”
Dealer channels remained the cornerstone of the sales network, accounting for 85.9% of total industry sales—a testament to the strength and resilience of South Africa’s retail automotive ecosystem.
Steady Parts & Export Performance
Complementing local success, TSAM’s parts business delivered another strong month, distributing over 1.9 million parts domestically and 309,621 parts to international markets. Vehicle exports totalled 4,247 units, underlining Toyota’s ongoing contribution to South Africa’s manufacturing and export economy.
Looking Ahead
As the South African auto industry continues its upward trajectory, Toyota’s June performance stands as a beacon of consumer confidence and market strength. By leveraging local production, an expansive dealer network, and trusted nameplates, Toyota not only retained its leadership but showcased its commitment to delivering quality, value, and dependability to South Africans—one vehicle at a time.
