- Domestic sales reach 61 890 units in October.
- Passenger car sales up 13.6% to 45 084.
- Exports rise 6.3% to 38 117 units.
- Year-to-date exports still 8.3% down.
- Fuel levy relief applies from 4 November.
Petrol breaching R30 a litre did not stop South Africans buying new vehicles in October 2026. Domestic sales reached 61 890 units, compared with 56 051 in October 2025, according to figures from naamsa. Exports rose 6.3% year on year to 38 117 units.
Dealer sales made up an estimated 48 234 units, or 78.0% of the total. The rental industry took 16.5%, government 3.3% and corporate fleets 2.2%.
Passenger and commercial vehicle sales in October
Passenger cars accounted for 45 084 units, up 5 380 units or 13.6%, with rental companies buying 21.4% of them. Light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses grew 2.2% to 13 689 units. Medium commercial vehicles slipped 0.9% to 770 units, while heavy trucks and buses rose 8.1% to 2 347 units.
South African vehicle exports turn upward
After declining since February 2026, exports climbed 21.1% month on month, helped by light commercial and extra-heavy commercial vehicles. Cumulative exports for the first ten months of the year remain 8.3% below the same period in 2025.
New energy vehicle sales pass 2025 total
NEV sales for the first nine months reached 22 389 units, against 16 703 for the whole of 2025. In September, 1 in every 9 cars sold was an NEV. Rechargeable vehicles, 8 082 plug-in hybrids and 3 217 battery electric models, made up 50.5% of year-to-date NEV sales, with traditional hybrids at 49.5% (11 090 units). Early adoption is also appearing in light and medium commercial segments.
Fuel prices and the economic outlook
Inland 95-octane petrol reached R30.25/litre from 7 October, a 12.4% rise on September, as Brent crude averaged US$101 per barrel and later passed US$110. September headline CPI inflation edged up to 4.5% from 4.4%.
Some relief arrives from 4 November, when the R10 billion temporary fuel levy package announced in the 21 October MTBPS cuts the diesel levy by R3.00/litre and petrol by R1.50/litre. Based on October levels, petrol would still sit about 39% above January 2026 prices, with diesel wholesale prices roughly 57% to 61% higher.
Supplied by MotorPress (Theresa Nel, Media Contact, naamsa)
This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.
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