New vehicle sales in South Africa showed a year-on-year increase of 5.8% in March 2026, according to the latest data from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa). A total of 47,905 units were sold during the month.
The passenger car market was a key driver of the growth, with sales in this segment rising by 9.9% compared to March 2025. Light commercial vehicle sales, however, saw a slight decline of 2.5%.
Naamsa attributed the overall positive performance to improved vehicle availability and a gradual easing of economic pressures on consumers. The association noted that export sales of vehicles manufactured in South Africa also remained strong, increasing by 7.8% year-on-year to 38,075 units in March.
Despite the monthly gain, Naamsa cautioned that the economic outlook remains challenging, with factors like high interest rates and load-shedding continuing to impact consumer and business confidence. The year-to-date sales total for 2026 is 2.8% higher than the same period in 2025.
