South Africa July 2022: First ever win for the Toyota Urban Cruiser in market shooting up 30.9%

The Toyota Urban Cruiser is the best-selling vehicle in South Africa in July.

The South African new light vehicle market shoots up 30.9% year-on-year in July to 43,593 units vs. 33,312 a year ago. Exports are up 177.7% to 31,242 vs. 11,252 in July 2021. 83.6% of the July volume is dealer sales, 10.4% sales to rental companies, 5% to corporate fleets and 1% to government. Passenger cars are up by a smashing 50.2% to 31,455 whereas light commercials drop -6.9% to 9,547 units, partly impacted by the Hilux shortage as production only restarted in late July. Year-to-date, the market is up 13.8% to 296,804 and is bound to surpass the 500,000 units by year end.

In the manufacturers ranking, Toyota keeps the lead with 16.3% share ahead of the VW Group at 14.2% and Suzuki at 10.9%. Hyundai ensures the Top 4 is unchanged on June with 6.8% share. Nissan and Renault both overtake Ford to rank #5 and #6 respectively, with Kia staying at #8, and both Isuzu and the BMW Group up one spot on last month to #9 and #10. Haval drops out of the Top 10, down two ranks to #11 while we welcome Chery in the Top 20 at #13.

The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro is inside the July Top 15.

Over in the models aisle, the India-made Toyota Urban Cruiser (aka Suzuki Vitara Brezza) snaps the pole position for the first time with 4.3% of the market. Only 16 units below is the Ford Ranger and 34 sales down is the VW Polo Vivo. The Isuzu D-Max is up three spots on June to #4 while last month’s leader the Suzuki Swift is down four to #5. Below, the Toyota Starlet drops one rank to #6, the Nissan NP200 is up one to #7, the VW Polo down two to #8 and the Renault Kiger remains at #9. The Toyota Hilux edges up one rank to re-enter the Top 10 at #10. Among vehicles not in the June Top 50 making their entrance in this month’s ranking are the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro at #15, the Kia Sonet at #20, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro at #31, the Hyundai Creta at #45, the Opel Crossland at #47 and the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro at #48.

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

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

Full July 2022 Top 35 all manufacturers and Top 50 models below.