Despite multiple global and local headwinds, new-vehicle exports from South Africa reached a new record last year. Component exports, however, yet again failed to show growth in 2025.

Speaking at the launch of the Automotive Trade Manual 2026 on Friday, naamsa | The Automotive Business Council chief trade and research officer Dr Norman Lamprecht said automotive exports remained a pillar of South Africa’s automotive industry, with the combined export value of vehicles and automotive components increasing from R268.8-billion in 2024 to a record R291-billion last year – a significant 15.6% of total South African exports.

Vehicle exports increased to a record 414 271 units last year, up from the 391 128 units exported in 2024.

Vehicle export value increased from R205.4-billion in 2024, to a record R229.8-billion in 2025.

Automotive component exports, however, declined for the third year in a row, moving from R63.4-billion in 2024, to R61.2-billion in 2025.

This comes as catalytic converter exports, once the crown jewel in South Africa’s component array, continue to decline as global markets increasingly move to electric vehicles (EVs), which do not use catalytic converters.

Lamprecht noted that catalytic converters remained the top automotive component exported from South Africa last year, despite the decline, reaching R25.9-billion, or 44.1%, of total automotive component exports, followed by engine parts, tyres, and transmission shafts and cranks.

In 2021, catalytic converter exports from South Africa totalled R34.9-billion, with each year showing a decline until last year’s R15.9-billion – a whopping 54% drop.

Engine part exports, the second biggest component export category, reached R5.8-billion last year.

The newest Automotive Trade Manual also shows that a substantial 23.8% of value addition within South Africa’s domestic manufacturing output was derived from vehicle and automotive component manufacturing last year, while the broader automotive industry’s contribution to GDP reached 5.2% (3.3% manufacturing and 1.9% retail).

South Africa remained the dominant market in Africa, accounting for 50.3% of total African vehicle production (1.23-million vehicles), and 46.5% of sales (1.29-million) in 2025.

Asia Ascending
Driven by lower interest rates, record-low vehicle price inflation and wide-ranging model and price options, domestic new-vehicle sales last year increased by 15.7% to 597 338 units, compared with the 516 103 units sold in 2024.

The most dramatic shift last year was the meteoric rise of imported Chinese brands, with these brands boosted to the mainstream by modern technology, competitive pricing and long-term warranties.

This said, last year’s top country of origin, in volume terms, for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCV) imported into South Africa, remained India, at 219 796 vehicles, or 56.2% of all light-vehicle imports, while China took second place, at 91 326 units, increasing its share of imports to 23.3%, up from 17.1% in 2024.

Altogether, there were 15 different brands from China operating in the domestic new-vehicle market last year, up from eight in 2024.

Compared with global standards, in 2025 there were no less than 56 passenger car brands and 1 995 model derivatives available to South Arican consumers – the greatest selection of market-size ratio found globally, noted Lamprecht.

Similarly, in the LCV segment, for the same period, there were 30 brands with 665 model derivatives to choose from.

Domestic new-energy vehicle (NEV) sales increased by 7.1% from 15 611 units in 2024, to 16 716 units last year.

The share of NEV sales – by 30 brands – as a percentage of total new-vehicle sales, decreased to 2.8%, however, down from 3% in 2024.

NEVs refer to hybrid, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles.