South Africa September 2020: Suzuki (+14.3%), Toyota Hilux (+24.7%) break records in reeling market (-23.9%)

The S-Presso is Suzuki’s best-selling model in South Africa.

Two months after the national Covid-19 lockdown was eased, new vehicle sales in South Africa remain well below their year-ago level with September volumes off -23.9% year-on-year to 37.403, leading to a year-to-date tally down -33.2% to 265.943. Passenger cars are down -31.2% to 22.798 but Light Commercials fare markedly better at -8.9% to 12.267. Exports lag -23.9% to 28.704. In the manufacturers ranking, Toyota (-20.7%) resists slightly better than the market and lifts to 25.2% share vs. 23.1% YTD, unlike the VW Group (-36.8%) still in dire straits at #2 with 14.6% share vs. 16.6% in 2020. Ford (-21.1%) also does ok given the context but it’s Suzuki (+14.3%)  hat manages the only year-on-year gain among carmakers holding over 0.5% share, even hitting a new all-time volume record at 1.787, eclipsing its previous best of 1.696 hit last February. Kia (-4.6%) and Hyundai (-7.2%) also hold very strongly in the remainder of the Top 10.

Just as the facelifted model is about to launch in October, the Toyota Hilux (+24.7%) breaks its all-time South African share record for the second time in the past 3 months at 11.4% thanks to 4.252 sales, its highest volume since October 2019. Although there’s no doubt this result has been helped by aggressive deals on the outgoing model, it also means that the last 3 months coincided with the highest 3 market shares ever reached by the Hilux in South Africa: 11.4% in September, 11% in July and 10.8% in August, with the previous best being 10.4% in June 2019. The Ford Ranger (-5.7%) is back up to #2 above the VW Polo Vivo (-36.2%), Polo (-44.2%) and Nissan NP200 (-50.3%). The outgoing Toyota Etios (+34.4%), Nissan NP300 (+27.7%) and Toyota Fortuner (-0.8%) also impress in the remainder of the Top 10 while the Suzuki S-Presso (538) tops recent launches above the Hyundai Venue (362) and Kia Seltos (318). As for exports, the Ford Ranger (6.995) leads the way above the VW Polo (6.344), Mercedes C-Class (6.105) and BMW X3 (4.773).

Previous month: South Africa August 2020: Isuzu (+35.5%) and D-Max (+47.4%) defy market stuck at -26.3%

One year ago: South Africa September 2019: Suzuki (+37.2%) shines, VW T-Cross up to #13 in 5th straight market fall (-1%)

Full September 2020 Top 38 All-manufacturers, Top 10 models and sales for selected 75 models below.