By Staff Reporter

The South African new vehicle market entered 2026 on a positive footing, with total domestic sales reaching 50,073 units in January. This represented a year-on-year increase of 7.5 percent, while vehicle exports also recorded modest growth of 0.6 percent to 24,568 units.

Within this improving market environment, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) recorded a strong start to the year, selling 11,786 vehicles in January. This performance secured Toyota a market-leading share of 23.5 percent across all segments.

Toyota maintained its leadership in the passenger vehicle category, achieving a market share of 21.1 percent through sales of 7,841 units. Several models featured prominently on the national sales charts, including the Vitz with 1,514 units sold, followed by the Starlet at 1,372 units, the Starlet Cross at 1,119 units, and the Rumion with 1,049 units.

In the luxury segment, Lexus posted steady results, driven primarily by its SUV range. The Lexus GX recorded 40 units, while the LX added a further 31 units. Additional Lexus models contributed a combined total of 27 units during the month.

Fleet sales also showed positive momentum, with business customers accounting for 42.5 percent of Toyota’s dealer sales in January. More than 2,000 businesses selected Toyota vehicles to meet their mobility needs during the period.

The light commercial vehicle segment continued to be led by the Hilux, which sold 2,475 units and retained its position as South Africa’s best-selling vehicle overall. This result helped Toyota secure a 33.2 percent share of the LCV market. The Hiace recorded 557 units, maintaining a strong presence in the taxi sector, while the Land Cruiser 79 pick-up contributed 484 units.

Toyota also led the medium commercial vehicle segment, achieving a 42.1 percent market share. This performance was supported by sales of 84 units of the Hino 300, along with 72 units each of the Coaster and Quantum.

In the aftersales space, Toyota’s parts operations remained active, with more than 1.9 million parts distributed locally in January. Export volumes reached 333,335 parts, reflecting continued demand across regional markets.

According to Toyota South Africa Motors, the January performance reflects a combination of improved consumer confidence, a broad product offering, and sustained support from its dealer network.