South Africa June 2022: Suzuki Swift repeats at #1, Toyota Urban Cruiser up to #2, sales up 7.6%

The Toyota Urban Cruiser aka Suzuki Vitara Brezza is #2 in South Africa in June.

Despite a shortage of Toyota models due to the closure of its KwaZulu-Natal factory following floods, the South African new vehicle market is up 7.6% year-on-year to 41,091 units in June. This brings the year-to-date tally up 11.4% to 253,540 units. New passenger cars soar 20.6% year-on-year to 29,545 units, thanks to very strong sales to rental car companies whereas new light commercial vehicles sink -20.8% to 8,877, mainly due to weak sales of the Toyota Hilux (a knock-on effect of the KZN floods). Year-to-date, Passenger vehicles are up 20.9% to 176,245 and LCVs down -7.6% to 63,586.

In the Passenger Vehicle manufacturers ranking, Toyota remains the market leader at 17.2% share vs. 16.4% in May while Volkswagen Group goes from 12.1% last month to 16.2% in 2nd place. Suzuki is stable at 11.2%, distancing Hyundai at 7.1% and Ford at 5.8%. Just 23 units below is Nissan with Renault taking the 7th spot above Kia and Haval. Isuzu rounds out the Top 10 like in May, it is followed by the BMW Group, Mahindra, Stellantis and Mercedes. No other Passenger Vehicle manufacturer is above 1% of the market.

Model-wise, the ranking favours imported models, notably from India as local production is still suffering from the after-effects of the floods. Suzuki Swift repeats at #1, signing its 2nd ever monthly win in South Africa. The Toyota Urban Cruiser becomes the brand’s best-seller, reaching a record 2nd place overall this month. The VW Polo Vivo rounds out the podium above the Ford Ranger and Toyota Starlet, the latter jumping from outside the May Top 20 directly to #5. The VW Polo, Isuzu D-Max and Nissan NP200 follow while the Renault Kiger and VW T-Cross close the Top 10. Notice also the Suzuki Vitara Brezza up to #16, the Opel Corsa at #23, Renault Triber at #24, VW Taigo at #29 and Suzuki Baleno at #30.

Previous month: South Africa May 2022: Suzuki Swift leads for the first time, Toyota plagued by flooding, sales up 2.1%

Previous year: South Africa Full Year 2021: Toyota Hilux #1 for 9th straight year, market up 22.1%

Full June 2022 Top 20 manufacturers and Top 50 models ranking below.