SA vehicle sales: 10 best-selling cars in South Africa for May 2023

SA vehicle sales showed robustness in May 2023, with a figure of 43 060 units registered last month. According to Naamsa it is an increase of 3959 vehicles or a gain of 10.1% compared to the May 2022.

However last month’s sales were aided by strong sales of light-commercial vehicles and in particular bakkies, reports IOL. The Toyota Hilux and newly-crowned SA Car of the Year the Ford Ranger are slugging it out in the sales charts.

ALSO READ: And the South African Car of the Year is…a bakkie

SA VEHICLE SALES FOR MAY PAINT A GRIM PICTURE FOR CONSUMERS WHO ARE UNDER PRESSURE

South Africans looking to buy new cars are being hit from all sides as they contend with an interest rate at its highest since 2009 and continued blackouts as well high inflation caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This is reflective in the data from May that shows cars such as the Volkswagen Polo Vivo, locally-built Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota Starlet and Suzuki Swift feature in the top five places.

ALSO READ: Golf R 333: Five pics of Volkswagen’s limited-edition most powerful Golf yet

Top 10 SA vehicle sales in May:

1. Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 1876

2. Toyota Corolla Cross – 1644

3. Toyota Starlet – 1218

4. Suzuki Swift – 1178

5. Volkswagen Polo – 1024

ALSO READ: Range Rover Sport SV: Meet the most powerful Range Rover yet

6. Toyota Fortuner – 1 018

7. Hyundai Grand i10 – 976

8. Haval Jolion – 881

9. Chery Tiggo 4 Pro – 745

10. Renault Kiger – 720

BUSINESS SENTIMENT IN THE COUNTRY IS LOW

Naamsa CEO Mikel MABASA commeting on the SA vehicle sales data for May said, “the automotive industry is facing multiple headwinds including: the recent escalation of interest rates hikes; the depreciation of the currency on the back of geo-political risk reputation around the Russia-Ukraine war; sectoral supply chain disruptions; as well as producer and consumer inflationary pressures.”

ALSO READ: Five new Volkswagens on their way to South Africa in 2023