South Africa January 2019: Toyota Hilux threatened by new generation VW Polo

VW Polo sales surge 144.6% in January in South Africa.

New vehicle sales in South Africa skid 7.7% year-on-year in January to just 42.374 units. Toyota (-5.4%) remains comfortably on top with 26.6% share just as the Volkswagen Group (+3.5%) edges up to 17.3% share but the next 8 manufacturers all report a loss: Ford (-8.1%), Hyundai-Kia (-9.6%) and Nissan (-11.1%) complete the Top 5 while the BMW Group (-44.7%) and Renault (-25%) are the hardest hit in the remainder of the Top 10. Further down, Subaru (+142.6%), Volvo (+39.2%), Mahindra (+27.5%), FCA (+22.9%), Opel (+14.4%) and Suzuki (+13.5%) manage to go against the grain with double-digit gains. Over in the models ranking, the Toyota Hilux (+3.7%) holds onto the pole position, resisting the smashing progression of the new gen VW Polo (+144.6%). The VW Polo Vivo (-15%) is hurt, ahead of the Toyota Corolla (+0.3%), Ford Ranger (-3.3%) and Nissan NP200 (-6.4%). The Isuzu D-Max breaks into the Top 10 and the Toyota Yaris (+715.3%) Hyundai i20 (+125.6%) and Suzuki Swift (+32%) shine further down.

Previous post: South Africa: Toyota Hilux records 9th win in past 10 years, VW Polo up 30% to #3

One year ago: South Africa January 2018: VW Polo Vivo leads, Renault and Suzuki shine

Full January 2019 Top 36 All-manufacturers and Top 245 All-models below.