According to data from the automobile dealer association, retail car sales in India showed a growth of 31.82% compared to the previous year in September. This growth is driven by high demand for both two-wheeled vehicles and passenger cars.
During September, dealers sold 2.54 million vehicles. This significantly exceeds last year's figure of 1.92 million units, as indicated in the data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association.
Despite economic difficulties, the new car market in South Africa demonstrated resilience in September. According to Naamsa data, the total volume of new vehicle sales increased by 12.7% compared to the same month last year, reaching 61,645 units.
Passenger cars were the growth leaders, increasing by 14.7% year-on-year to 44,291 units. The rental market accounted for 18.4% of total sales. Light commercial vehicles, including bakkies and minivans, grew by 9.6%, reaching 14,361 units. Sales of medium commercial vehicles increased by 3.4% to 789 units, while heavy truck sales rose by 12.1%. However, bus sales sharply declined by 49.3%, totaling only 70 units.
Naamsa reported that approximately 81.4% of all car sales were conducted through dealer channels, while the rental market share was 13.8%, government orders accounted for 2.6%, and corporate fleets made up 2.2%. Export sales, which amounted to 31,473 units, decreased by 18.8% compared to last year.
Toyota showed a strong month in the sales rankings, selling 15,366 new cars. It was followed by Suzuki with 6,668 sales, then Volkswagen Group with 5,968, and Ford with 3,190.
The list of the top fifteen manufacturers in September 2026 includes: Toyota (15,366), Suzuki Auto (6,668), Volkswagen Group (5,968), Ford Motor Co (3,190), Hyundai Automotive (3,057), Isuzu Motors (3,022), Chery Auto (3,004), GWM SA (2,700), Jetour SA (2,036), Kia SA (1,840), Renault (1,711), Omoda & Jaecoo (1,503), Mahindra (1,398), BMW Group (1,396), and Tata Motors (883).
The economic situation in South Africa became more challenging in September due to rising fuel and energy prices, which intensified inflationary pressure and burdened household purchasing power. Nevertheless, new car sales continued to grow at double-digit rates despite deteriorating accessibility conditions.
According to Naamsa, a significant part of this resilience is explained by a more competitive and diversified structure of the new car market. The industry organization noted that the expansion of brands, models, and price categories available to consumers has strengthened competition and expanded access to mobility.
However, since affordability remains a key factor for buyers, demand is being maintained through competitive pricing, attractive financial offers, and a wider range of inexpensive and budget products, even amid constraints in traditional macroeconomic indicators.
Thanda Sithole, a senior economist at WesBank, stated that the financial institution's data indicates that buyers are adopting a more cautious approach to auto financing: deals for new cars are becoming smaller and longer, while used car deals are increasing in value. Fixed-rate loans have gained popularity, and 'balloon' payments have become less common.
Sithole added that trends in applications suggest that customers are not simply abandoning the market in response to affordability issues; they are changing how they structure the car purchase. Consumers are paying more attention to managing the total cost of ownership and finding a financing structure that provides greater certainty throughout the contract term.
