New Vehicle Sales climbed yet again
Naamsa’s projection for a strong domestic performance in the first half of 2025, was very accurate with total new vehicle sales once again increasing to reach 47 294 units in June 2025 with a growth of 7 444 units or 18,7% from the 39 850 units sold in June 2024.
The June 2025 new passenger car market at 32 570 units had registered an increase of 5 807 cars, an improvement of 21,7%, compared to the 26 763 new cars sold in June 2024.
Sales for medium and heavy truck segments of the industry, yet again reflected a mixed performance in June 2025.
Medium Commercial sales at 652 units recorded an increase of 129 units or 24,7% comparing to June 2024 and in the case of heavy trucks and buses a decrease of 62 vehicles, or 3,1%, compared to the 2,005 units sold in the corresponding month last year.
For the first half of the year new vehicle sales were now 13,6% ahead of the corresponding period 2024, supported by an influx of affordable (mostly Chinese) imported models.
Closure of Nissan Rosslyn Plant
The potential closure of Nissan’s Rosslyn plant in Pretoria comes as a very sad day for South Africa’s automotive sector. As part of Nissan’s global restructuring plan, the company aims to reduce their manufacturing plants from “seventeen” to “ten” by 2027, and unfortunately the Rosslyn Plant falls under those seven facilities under review.
Established in 1966, the Rosslyn plant has been a cornerstone of South Africa’s automotive industry.
It has produced various models including the NP200 bakkie and the Navara. Unfortunately the discontinuation of the NP200 in March 2024 left the plant underutilized, relying solely on Navara production.
The Rosslyn plant currently employs approximately 1 600 workers. The complete shutdown would not only affect direct employment but also have ripple effects on suppliers.
Despite the challenges, Nissan South Africa remains committed to the local market. The company has announced plans to launch new models, including the new Patrol and two Renault SUVs expected to arrive in 2026. These models will obviously be imported and not locally manufactured.
Merging of Hino and Fuso
Another big surprise in the commercial vehicle industry was the announcement that Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso are merging under a new holding company, with Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corporation each holding 25% shares, according to AutoTrader South Africa. This integration is scheduled to be finalized in April 2026, with the new entity headquartered in Tokyo and listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The merging aims to enhance business efficiency through combined development, procurement, and production of commercial vehicles.
The merging of the Japanese truck makers will result in a new and combined company with more than 40,000 employees to shape the future of the commercial vehicle landscape in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
– Cobus Lourens –