South Africa August 2018: New gen lifts VW Polo to first win in 4 years

The VW Polo is the best-selling vehicle in South Africa for the first time since July 2014.

* See the Top 35 manufacturers and Top 250 models by clicking on the title *

New vehicle sales in South Africa drop 2.5% year-on-year in August to 47.964 registrations, sending the year-to-date tally down 0.8% to 363.233 units. Retail sales account for 80.9% of the August total, with rental sales at 12.5% and industry corporate fleets at 3.7% and government sales at 2.9%. Cars are down 2.2% to 31.447 with rentals accounting for 17%. Light commercials drop 5.8% to 13.956. Toyota (+1%) remains by far the most popular manufacturer in the country, alongside with the Volkswagen Group (+9%) braving the adverse conditions with year-on-year gains. Ford (-23%) on the other hand is struggling while Nissan (-2%) matches the market at #4 ahead of Hyundai-Kia and Renault, both up 6%. Volvo (+77%), Mahindra (+35%), Mitsubishi (+27%) and Mazda (+12%) also shine.

Model-wise, the VW Polo is boosted up 63% by the new generation to take the lead for the first time in over four years (since July 2014), an honour that normally goes to its older sibling the Polo Vivo. The Toyota Hilux (-1%) is knocked down to #2 but remains comfortably in the YTD pole position at 26.600 sales vs. 20.110 for its immediate follower the Ford Ranger (-1%) also down one spot on July to #3. The VW Polo Vivo (-21%) looks like it is hurting from the competition of the Polo even though its has jumped one generation as the new Polo launches. The Nissan NP200 (+4%) aka Dacia Logan I pickup remains impressively solid, followed by the Isuzu KB (+12%) and Toyota Quantum (+2%) while the Hyundai Grand i10 (+73%) and Kia Picanto (+27%) post the largest gains in the Top 10 and the Toyota Rush (#38) tops all recent launches, well ahead of the Opel Crossland X (#87), Isuzu MU-X (#89), Jaguar E-Pace (#98), Volvo XC40 (#100) and Mercedes X Class (#102).

Previous month: South Africa July 2018: Toyota majestic in market up 2.5%

One year ago: South Africa August 2017: Nissan up 40%, Hilux leads in market up 6.5%

Full July 2018 Top 35 manufacturers and Top 245 models below.