Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) said on Tuesday that in February they had sold 12 272 new vehicles securing a 23% share of the domestic market.
Image: Supplied by TSAM
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) said on Tuesday that in February they had sold 12 272 new vehicles securing a 23% share of the domestic market. The news follows the Automotive Business Council (Naamsa) announcing on Monday that new vehicle sales in February 2026 were at 53,455 units, the best February monthly performance since 2013.
TSAM said that with a total of 7,366 passenger car units sold, Toyota secured a segment market share of 19.6%.
“The Corolla Cross (1022 units), Fortuner (689 units), Prado (508 units) and Urban Cruiser (723 units) recorded substantial growth when compared to their January performance. These models contributed significantly to Toyota’s sustained leadership in the passenger segment, aligning with broader market growth, where passenger car sales increased by 11.3% year-on-year to 37 576 units,” it said.
TSAM added that Lexus delivered an impressive 125 units in February, boosted by the NX (42 units), GX (29 units) and LX (25 units). A key highlight for Lexus was the exceptional performance of the all-new Lexus RZ, which sold 9 units – a notable jump from just one unit sold in January. The RZ is Lexus’ first fully battery-electric vehicle (BEV) which was recently launched in South Africa. Its strong early uptake reflects growing consumer interest in electrified premium mobility and underscores Lexus’ commitment to progressive zero-emission technologies.
TSAM said that in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) market, the Toyota Hilux retained its title as South Africa’s top-selling bakkie. In February, the Hilux sold 3 362 units, securing a 25.5% market share. Other strong contributors within Toyota’s LCV lineup include the Hiace (619 units) and the Land Cruiser 79 Pick-Up (381 units). These results align with overall LCV market growth which grew 11.9% year-on-year, reaching 13 218 units.
TSAM added that their commercial vehicle performance remained robust with notable performance from the Quantum Bus (108 units) and the Hino 300 (91 units). Within the Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) segment, Hino contributed a combined 85 units. This performance was primarily driven by the Hino 500 with 76 units, outperforming January by 12 units. Looking at the Fleet, aftersales and parts businesses, the divisions maintained their positive momentum, continuing to anchor the brand’s market-leading customer support ecosystem. With 2 334 companies selecting Toyota to support their business mobility requirements, the Fleet division displayed a strong performance predominantly in the commercial segment.
Leon Theron, TSAM Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said that Toyota was incredibly proud of the work that its teams had accomplished in February.
“Toyota’s performance is a testament to the trust South Africans place in our vehicles across every segment, from passenger cars to commercial workhorses. We remain committed to delivering quality and durable mobility solutions that South Africans rely on every day,” Theron said.
Naamsa said that the February 2026 performance continues to reflect a broad-based improvement in underlying demand fundamentals. Private sector credit extension accelerated to 8.7% year-on-year in December, driven predominantly by robust corporate borrowing, while household credit growth improved gradually as cumulative interest rate reductions since late 2024 filtered into asset finance markets. Vehicle asset finance activity has strengthened as cumulative interest rate cuts since late 2024 improve affordability and support buyer sentiment.
Brandon Cohen, national chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) said this good news comes at a time when the world enters a new period of uncertainty brought on by the war in the Middle East.
“The regional unrest, which is reverberating globally, will be another factor to cause hardship, particularly in terms of higher transport and logistics costs and supply chain management,” he said.
Cohen added that although the next few months will look at inflation, interest rate numbers, fuel costs and even local government elections, for now consumer sentiment is strong, people are buying vehicles in the new and used space and they are protecting those assets with (Value Added Products) VAPS, which is also a good sign.
BUSINESS REPORT