South Africa January 2026: Market at highest in 9 years, Jetour break records
Jetour holds 3.1% of the South African market in January.
The South African new vehicle market marks a 16th consecutive month of year-on-year gains in January at +7.5% to 50,073 units. This is the highest January volume in 9 years, since the 50,333 sales of January 2017. Toyota (-3%) disappoints but remains ultra dominant at 23.5% share while Suzuki (+0.2%) reclaims the second spot it held over the Full year 2025 off the Volkswagen Group (-15.9%) in deep trouble. Hyundai (+10.4%), Ford (+19.6%), GWM (+43.6%) and Chery (+18%) camp on their December and Full Year 2025 rankings from #4 to #7 respectively. Kia (+32.2%) and Mahindra (+14.2%) also beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10. Jetour (+243.7%) celebrates one year in market with new volume (1,550) and share (3.1%) records.
Over in the models charts, the Toyota Hilux (-3.2%) is the best-seller once again with a comfortable 5.1% share, albeit one percentage point below its December and Full Year 2025 level of 6.1%. The Ford Ranger (+11.5%) advances to #2 ahead of the VW Polo Vivo (-19.2%) and Suzuki Swift (-22.8%) both in freefall. Reversely the Chery Tiggo 4 (+44.8%) and Toyota Vitz (+83.5%) surge ahead to #5 and #6 respectively. The Hyundai Grand i10 (+13.4%) is also solid at #7. Further down, notice the Toyota Rumion (+227.8%), Omoda C5 (+75.4%) and Suzuki Fronx (+50%) all in outstanding shape. The Jetour T2 is up 9 ranks on last month to a record #22.
Previous post: South Africa Full Year 2025: Toyota Hilux scores 13th straight win in highest market in 10 years
One year ago: South Africa January 2025: Suzuki Swift topples Toyota Hilux
Full January 2026 Top 44 All manufacturers and Top 50 models below.
South Africa January 2026 – manufacturers:
| Pos | Manufacturer | Jan-26 | % | /25 | Dec |
| 1 | Toyota | 11,786 | 23.5% | – 3.0% | 1 |
| 2 | Suzuki | 6,410 | 12.8% | + 0.2% | 3 |
| 3 | Volkswagen Group | 4,774 | 9.5% | – 15.9% | 2 |
| 4 | Hyundai | 3,048 | 6.1% | + 10.4% | 4 |
| 5 | Ford | 2,678 | 5.3% | + 19.6% | 5 |
| 6 | GWM (incl. Haval) | 2,521 | 5.0% | + 43.6% | 6 |
| 7 | Chery | 2,258 | 4.5% | + 18.0% | 7 |
| 8 | Kia | 1,888 | 3.8% | + 32.2% | 9 |
| 9 | Mahindra | 1,671 | 3.3% | + 14.2% | 13 |
| 10 | Isuzu | 1,606 | 3.2% | – 7.3% | 8 |
| 11 | Jetour | 1,550 | 3.1% | + 243.7% | 10 |
| 12 | Renault | 1,415 | 2.8% | + 0.4% | 12 |
| 13 | Omoda and Jaecoo | 1,413 | 2.8% | + 90.2% | 11 |
| 14 | Nissan | 1,133 | 2.3% | – 2.5% | 14 |
| 15 | BMW Group | 1,094 | 2.2% | – 7.6% | 15 |
| 16 | Stellantis | 530 | 1.1% | + 38.0% | 16 |
| 17 | Mercedes | 482 | 1.0% | + 16.4% | 17 |
| 18 | MG | 458 | 0.9% | new | 19 |
| 19 | Foton | 452 | 0.9% | new | 20 |
| 20 | FAW Trucks | 336 | 0.7% | + 0.6% | 18 |
| 21 | Honda | 311 | 0.6% | + 50.2% | 21 |
| 22 | JAC | 277 | 0.6% | + 37.8% | 22 |
| 23 | Daimler Trucks | 255 | 0.5% | + 7.1% | 26 |
| 24 | Jaguar Land Rover | 254 | 0.5% | + 5.4% | 25 |
| 25 | Mazda | 234 | 0.5% | – 13.0% | 23 |
| 26 | BAIC | 228 | 0.5% | – 9.2% | 24 |
| 27 | Mitsubishi | 130 | 0.3% | – 26.1% | 31 |
| 28 | UD Trucks | 117 | 0.2% | – 4.1% | 29 |
| 29 | Scania | 94 | 0.2% | – 28.2% | 30 |
| 30 | Porsche | 82 | 0.2% | + 9.3% | 33 |
| 31 | Man | 81 | 0.2% | – 35.7% | 36 |
| 32 | Powerstar | 75 | 0.1% | + 0.0% | 37 |
| 33 | Changan | 72 | 0.1% | new | 28 |
| 34 | Sinotruk | 71 | 0.1% | + 10.9% | 39 |
| 35 | Volvo Cars | 67 | 0.1% | – 17.3% | 35 |
| 36 | Volvo Group | 60 | 0.1% | – 31.0% | 27 |
| 37 | Tata | 49 | 0.1% | – 18.3% | 38 |
| 38 | VECV South Africa | 46 | 0.1% | + 206.7% | 40 |
| 39 | Subaru | 19 | 0.0% | – 63.5% | 34 |
| 40 | Iveco | 18 | 0.0% | – 40.0% | 32 |
| 41 | Babcock | 15 | 0.0% | – 11.8% | 41 |
| 42 | Shacman | 10 | 0.0% | n/a | 42 |
| 43 | Proton | 5 | 0.0% | – 88.4% | 43 |
| 44 | Ferrari (Scuderia) | 0 | 0.0% | – 100.0% | 44 |
South Africa January 2026 – models:
| Pos | Model | Jan-26 | % | /24 | Dec |
| 1 | Toyota Hilux | 2,475 | 5.1% | – 3.2% | 1 |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 2,071 | 4.2% | + 11.5% | 3 |
| 3 | VW Polo Vivo | 2,060 | 4.2% | – 19.2% | 4 |
| 4 | Suzuki Swift | 2,029 | 4.1% | – 22.8% | 12 |
| 5 | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro | 1,625 | 3.3% | + 44.8% | 5 |
| 6 | Toyota Vitz | 1,514 | 3.1% | + 83.5% | 18 |
| 7 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 1,374 | 2.8% | + 13.4% | 7 |
| 8 | Toyota Starlet | 1,372 | 2.8% | – 37.1% | 6 |
| 9 | Isuzu D-Max | 1,331 | 2.7% | – 5.8% | 8 |
| 10 | GWM Haval Jolion | 1,172 | 2.4% | + 6.6% | 9 |
| 11 | Suzuki Fronx | 1,161 | 2.4% | + 50.0% | 10 |
| 12 | Toyota Starlet Cross | 1,119 | 2.3% | + 6.6% | 13 |
| 13 | Toyota Rumion | 1,049 | 2.1% | + 227.8% | 38 |
| 14 | Kia Sonet | 1,000 | 2.0% | + 20.3% | 14 |
| 15 | Suzuki Ertiga | 937 | 1.9% | + 47.1% | 11 |
| 16 | Omoda C5 | 907 | 1.9% | + 75.4% | 16 |
| 17 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 873 | 1.8% | – 28.8% | 2 |
| 18 | Nissan Magnite | 811 | 1.7% | + 9.0% | 19 |
| 19 | VW Polo | 738 | 1.5% | – 2.1% | 17 |
| 20 | Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up | 724 | 1.5% | – 9.6% | 24 |
| 21 | Mahindra XUV3X0 | 724 | 1.5% | + 46.0% | 23 |
| 22 | Jetour T2 | 665 | 1.4% | n/a | 31 |
| 23 | Renault Triber | 602 | 1.2% | + 24.4% | 26 |
| 24 | Toyota Hiace | 593 | 1.2% | – 1.3% | 25 |
| 25 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 592 | 1.2% | – 33.5% | 15 |
| 26 | Hyundai i20 | 550 | 1.1% | + 63.7% | 40 |
| 27 | Toyota Land Cruiser 70 | 541 | 1.1% | – 3.4% | 29 |
| 28 | VW T-Cross | 540 | 1.1% | – 2.7% | 37 |
| 29 | GWM P-Series | 461 | 0.9% | + 130.5% | 27 |
| 30 | Toyota Fortuner | 443 | 0.9% | – 32.1% | 21 |
| 31 | Toyota Prado | 441 | 0.9% | + 41.8% | 30 |
| 32 | Suzuki Baleno | 440 | 0.9% | + 8.4% | 20 |
| 33 | Jetour T1 | 431 | 0.9% | n/a | 43 |
| 34 | GWM Haval H6 | 408 | 0.8% | + 27.1% | 32 |
| 35 | Chery Tiggo 7 Pro | 399 | 0.8% | – 3.4% | 28 |
| 36 | Renault Kwid | 381 | 0.8% | – 20.1% | 36 |
| 37 | Renault Kiger | 354 | 0.7% | – 10.6% | 34 |
| 38 | Suzuki S-Presso | 338 | 0.7% | + 16.2% | 50 |
| 39 | VW Amarok | 321 | 0.7% | + 31.0% | 22 |
| 40 | Nissan Navara | 312 | 0.6% | + 4.7% | 41 |
| 41 | Suzuki Jimny | 312 | 0.6% | – 9.3% | 44 |
| 42 | Suzuki DZire | 299 | 0.6% | + 35.9% | n/a |
| 43 | Ford Territory | 284 | 0.6% | – 2.4% | 33 |
| 44 | Hyundai Exter | 283 | 0.6% | – 14.0% | 39 |
| 45 | Jetour Dashing | 283 | 0.6% | – 2.4% | 35 |
| 46 | Kia Pegas | 268 | 0.5% | n/a | n/a |
| 47 | Jaecoo J5 | 260 | 0.5% | new | 46 |
| 48 | VW Tiguan | 260 | 0.5% | – 25.5% | n/a |
| 49 | GWM Tank 300 | 249 | 0.5% | n/a | 49 |
