Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has reported a total of 10 890 vehicles sold in the last month of the third quarter. Over the past three quarters of 2024, TSAM has sold a total of 93 244 units year to date – including Hino- and Lexus-branded models. TSAM is also proud to be category leader in both passenger and Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segments.
Overall bestseller, Hilux, registered a total of 2 942 units in September – alongside robust sales from Hiace (386) and Land Cruiser pickup (168) – and helped catapult Toyota to the top of the local LCV segment with an aggregate of 3 695 units retailed.
Sales in the passenger segment were also noteworthy, courtesy of a respectable total of 6 868 units sold. Stand-out performances came from SA’s locally manufactured SUV duo –
Corolla Cross (2046) and Fortuner (1086); Vitz (814), Starlet Cross (713) and Starlet (626) further reinforcing Toyota’s lead in the segment.
On the luxury front, Lexus totaled 54 sales – including 21 NX models, and 12 RX and 12 LX units.
Hino trucks sold a total of 293 units – with the 500 Series and 300 Series sharing the spoils at 117 apiece.
For the month of September, the Parts Warehouse supplied just over 1,7-million-part pieces, with close to 300 000-plus pieces going to the export market. Taking a broader scope view, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (naamsa) says: “In a year marked by economic fluctuations, year-to-date data reveals that new vehicle sales in South Africa reached 401 169 units by September 2024, reflecting a decline of -5.8% compared to the same period in 2023.
“The new passenger car market in September 2024, at 30 218 units, registered an increase of 112 cars, or a rise of 2%, compared to the 29 626 new cars sold in September 2023. Sales to the car rental industry accounted for a substantial 28% of new passenger vehicle sales during the month.”
The economic outlook for the remainder of the year looks positive. The South African Reserve Bank cut interest rates for the first time in four years in September, the Rand strengthened, and inflation dipped below the central bank’s target.
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSAM Leon Theron says: “Decreased fuel prices are likely to boost consumer confidence and lighten household budgets. These positive spins are attributable to a robust currency and the declining inflation. We’d like to thank our loyal customers for their unwavering support and we see them as ambassadors of our Toyota, Lexus and Hino brands.
“We therefore celebrate the September sales and remain optimistic that the market will continue the uptick till the end of the year. Of course, we can’t overlook the strength of our dealer network. We are truly indebted to our dealers across the country as well as all the Toyota employees who keep us in the lead month after month.”