New-vehicle sales in September hit their highest monthly level for 10 years as the market continued its stellar 2025 rebound.
Motor industry association Naamsa reported on Thursday that 54,700 new cars and commercial vehicles were sold last month.
That was 24.3% more than the 44,000 in September 2024 and the best of any month since September 2015.
Three-quarters of the way through 2025, aggregate sales totalled 436,854 — 15.6% more than the 377,765 at the same stage last year.
There was also good news for exporters. Foreign shipments of 38,722 vehicles outdid September 2024’s 29,810 by 32.9%.
Eastern Cape-built Volkswagen Polos led the way as car exports grew by 63.7%. There was also solid growth for medium, heavy and extra-heavy trucks, albeit off a small base.
The only disappointment was the bakkie sector, where exports fell by 22.2%. For the year to date, aggregate exports are 6% ahead of 2024 — up from 291,207 to 308,613.
Naamsa said the performance so far showed “industry resilience despite global supply chain disruptions and US automotive tariffs”.
Car sales were also the main winners in the September domestic market. The 38,603 total was 28% up on the corresponding month of 2024.
WesBank marketing head Lebo Gaoaketse said consumer demand for new-vehicle finance was “unprecedented”. After nine months of the year, car sales were 22.1% ahead of last year — 307,886 against 252,175.
Gaoaketse said: “A more favourable economic outlook should continue to support increased new-vehicle sales.”
Last month, sales of light commercial vehicles rose 19.7% from a year earlier.
Heavy trucks also outperformed September 2024, but medium and extra-heavy trucks lost ground slightly.
Brandon Cohen, chair of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association, said despite the growing new-vehicle market, affordability was still forcing many consumers into the used-vehicle market.
“While this remains good business for dealers, it ultimately impacts new vehicle sales and their slow recovery to pre-Covid levels. It does, however, maintain mobility for South Africans at an affordable price,” Cohen said.
Update: October 2 2025
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