South Africa Full Year 2017: Toyota Hilux snaps 8th win in past 9 years

The Toyota Hilux posts its 5th consecutive annual win in South Africa. 

* See the Top 35 All-manufacturers and Top 355 All-models by clicking on the title *

Consult 45 years worth of South African Historical Data here

For the first time since 2013, the South African new vehicle market registers a positive result at year-end, with deliveries up 1.8% to 557.586 units. Passenger cars follow the market at +1.9% to 368.068 sales, light commercials over-perform at +2.6% to 163.346 while medium commercials (down 6.4% to 7.785) and heavy trucks and buses (-1.6% to 18.387) both fall. Some bad news for the South African industry: exports skid down 4.6% to 329.053 units with passenger cars suffering the most at -7% to 221.928. Toyota remains by far the best-selling manufacturer in the country, frankly outpacing the market with a 9% gain to 22.9% share, distancing the Volkswagen Group (+0.4%) at 15.6%, Ford (-4%) at 12.8%, Hyundai-Kia (-1%) at 9.5% and Nissan (+26%) at 9.3%. General Motors/Isuzu (-19%) and Mercedes (-10%) complete a Top 7 unchanged on 2016. Renault impresses with a 21% surge, overtaking the BMW Group (-19%) to #8 overall while Mazda (+11%) rounds up the Top 10 like in 2016. Suzuki soars 69%, Mahindra is up 27%, the Fiat Group up 23% and Great Wall Motors up 117%.

Over in the models ranking, the Toyota Hilux holds onto its crown for the 5th year in a row and the 8th time in the past 9 years, beating the market at +3% to 6.5% share. It once again extends its lead on the Ford Ranger edging up 1% to 5.9%. The VW Polo Vivo (-2%), Polo (-2%), Toyota Corolla (+10%) and Quantum (+5%) complete a Top 6 unchanged on 2016. The Nissan NP200 (a rebadged Dacia Logan Pickup) steps up one spot to #7 thanks to deliveries up 20% vs. +15% for the Toyota Etios down to #8. The Toyota Fortuner soars 24% to break into the Top 10 at #9, the Nissan NP300 Hardbody is up 43% and the Renault Kwid (+531%) ends its first full year on the South African market at a very satisfying 15th place, instantly becoming the carmaker’s best-seller here and peaking at #6 in December. Notice also the Ford Everest (+172%), Hyundai Tucson (+129%), Nissan Almera (+100%), VW Tiguan (+82%), Suzuki Swift (+57%), Mazda CX-3 (+43%) and VW Golf (+36%) all posting spectacular gains in the Top 50 which only includes one all-new nameplate for 2017: the Hyundai Creta (#49).

Previous month: South Africa November 2017: Toyota Hilux back in charge

Previous year: South Africa Full Year 2016: Toyota Hilux sovereign in market down 11%

Two years ago: South Africa Full Year 2015: Toyota Hilux holds off Ford Ranger threat

Full Year 2017 Top 35 All-manufacturers and Top 355 All-models vs. Full Year 2016 figures below.

Full December 2017 Top 35 All-manufacturers and Top 245 All-models below.