South Africa Full Year 2014: Hilux #1, Ranger and Corolla shine

Toyota Hilux

* See the Top 35 manufacturers and Top 275 All-models by clicking on the title *

The South African new vehicle market is down just 0.7% year-on-year in 2014 to 644,523 registrations, a solid performance in an uncertain economic climate and despite industrial action over the course of the year, rising inflation and interest rates. Toyota remains the most popular manufacturer with 127,534 sales and just under 20% market share ahead of Volkswagen Group at 16.7%, Ford at 11.6%, Hyundai-Kia at 10.8% and General Motors at 9.6%. Local assemblers Mercedes (5.7%) and BMW (4.1%) continue to be strong in South Africa.

The VW Polo Vivo is assembled locally.

This year and for the first time on BSCB I give you an All-models ranking for South Africa (compared to a Top 50 in 2013), keeping in mind Hyundai, Kia and Great Wall do not communicate sales by model here, and Mercedes reverted to not sharing that type of data either over the last 2 months of the year. In this context, the models podium is unchanged on 2013, with the Toyota Hilux is pole position with 5.8% of the market, followed by the VW Polo Vivo at 5.4% and the VW Polo at 4.6%. The Ford Ranger is up 45% and one spot to #4 and even managed to snap up the top spot in November.

The Ford Ecosport is inside the South African Top 20 for its first full year.

Boosted by the new model, the Toyota Corolla is up 43% and 4 ranks to #5 with 21,265 sales, knocking the Toyota Etios down 23% to #6. Further down, notice the Chevrolet Spark up 29% to #15, the Ford Ecosport up threefold to #18 for its first full year in market, the Renault Sandero up 38% to #20, Renault Clio IV up 50% to #21, the Audi A3 shooting up to #23 thanks to the new sedan, the Toyota RAV4 up to #25 and the Renault Duster up 252% to #27. The Datsun GO lands at #68 and peaked at #20 in November.

Previous month: South Africa November 2014: Ford Ranger #1 for the first time

One year ago: South Africa Full Year 2013: Toyota Hilux leads, Etios up to #4

Two years ago: South Africa Full Year 2012: VW Polo Vivo snaps up top spot

Full Year 2014 Top 35 manufacturers and Top 275 All-models vs. Full 2013 figures below.

Full December 2014 Top 35 manufacturers and Top 100 models below.