One in four cars sold in South Africa in August 2025 was a Toyota

South Africans bought more Toyota cars in August than any other brand combined, cementing the Japanese automaker’s grip on the market.

Toyota sold 13,276 units in August 2025, its best year-to-date performance, according to company data. That is more than double Suzuki’s 6,534 and Volkswagen’s 5,521, putting Toyota ahead of the second and third spots combined.

The company now controls 25.6% of the market, meaning one in every four cars sold carries the Toyota badge.

“Seeing new vehicle sales climb back to pre-Covid levels gives us real confidence,” said Leon Theron, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM). “Our broad product offering and strong consumer sentiment made this possible.”

Hilux leads

Toyota’s Hilux bakkie remained South Africa’s top-selling vehicle, with 3,325 units sold last month. The Corolla Cross followed with 2,743 units, making it the best-selling passenger car and second overall. Other popular models included the Starlet (1,322), Vitz (885) and Rumion (772).

Even high-end models found buyers. The Toyota Prado sold 270 units despite a R1.3 million price tag, while Lexus added 80 units, led by the GX SUV with 28.

Industry on the rise

The broader auto market also showed strong recovery. Industry-wide new vehicle sales jumped 18.7% year-on-year to 51,880 units, the highest since October 2019, according to the Automotive Business Council.

Analysts say Toyota’s dominance signals not just a win for one automaker, but a wider rebound in South Africa’s auto industry.

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