It’s been an interesting month for used car sales in South Africa, with the latest data from AutoTrader revealing that used car sales have fallen by -9.6% year-on-year and -10.3% compared to last month. While overall sales have taken a dive, several models saw growth in September 2024.
Overall, September used car sales totalled 28,609, with a combined value of just under R11.6 billion. This represents a year-on-year decrease of -8.7% in accumulative sales value.
It’s no surprise that Toyota, Volkswagen, and Ford retained their top three positions, with 4,964, 4,134, and 2,962 units sold, respectively. Toyota experienced a modest -2% decline year-on-year, while Volkswagen saw an -8% drop in used car sales. Ford faced the steepest challenge, contending with a -13% decrease compared to the previous year.
On a brand level, the only position changes (month-on-month) involved Nissan, Hyundai, and Suzuki. Previously in 8th place, Nissan moved up two spots, while Hyundai went from 6th to 7th. Suzuki also lost a spot, finishing up in 8th place.
“While used car sales have seen a decline in September 2024, several models have seen growth in the used car market,” said George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “The sales uptick for used cars like the Suzuki Swift, Toyota Starlet, Volkswagen Polo Vivo, and Nissan NP200 highlight the strong demand for well-priced, fuel-efficient vehicles.”
Speaking of the Nissan NP200, the compact bakkie – discontinued earlier this year – enjoyed tremendous year-on-year growth, with used sales soaring by +43.9%. It’s possible that a lack of new small bakkie options has led consumers to the used car market, where they can find nearly new options at affordable prices. Used sales of the Starlet (412) and Swift (481) increased by +5.6% and +21.7%, respectively. An increase in the sale of affordable used cars shows consumers are seeking budget-friendly options.
It is no surprise that the top three spots are occupied by the Ford Ranger (1,600), Toyota Hilux (1,445), and Volkswagen Polo (1,330). Among the top three, only the Hilux has seen marginal growth, with a year-on-year increase of +3.9%. The Polo Vivo (4th overall) also saw impressive YoY increases of +10.7% in September 2024.
It’s worth noting that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series saw the biggest YoY decreases – suggesting that consumers are eschewing more expensive luxury vehicles in favour of more affordable and economical cars.
Regarding the most sold variants on the used car market, the Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI and Polo Vivo 1.4 occupy the top two spots, followed by the Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6. Interestingly, the average used car price has fallen slightly to R405,154 compared to last month’s R408,412.
Top 10 Sold Used Models in September 2024
|
Ranked by most sold |
Model |
Sold Count |
Price (R) Average |
Mileage (km) Average |
Registration year Average |
|
1 |
Ford Ranger |
1,600 |
R452,044 |
82,598 |
4 years-old |
|
2 |
Toyota Hilux |
1,445 |
R447,576 |
105,771 |
5 years-old |
|
3 |
Volkswagen Polo |
1,330 |
R264,709 |
70,964 |
4 years-old |
|
4 |
Volkswagen Polo Vivo |
1,027 |
R193,276 |
60,793 |
3 years-old |
|
5 |
Toyota Fortuner |
707 |
R458,224 |
106,132 |
5 years-old |
|
6 |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
534 |
R447,968 |
91,955 |
7 years-old |
|
7 |
Nissan NP200 |
528 |
R178,606 |
72,824 |
3 years-old |
|
8 |
Suzuki Swift |
481 |
R192,145 |
38,636 |
2 years-old |
|
9 |
BMW 3 Series |
442 |
R392,146 |
107,272 |
7 years-old |
|
10 |
Toyota Starlet |
412 |
R232,836 |
34,730 |
1 years-old |
Source: AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 – 30 September 2024
