How newly launched models sold in SA during July 2026

Here are the key takeaways shaping Mzansi's motoring scene this month.

Toyota’s new FJ hits the ground running

The headline news for off-road enthusiasts and Toyota loyalists alike is the arrival of the Land Cruiser FJ. Toyota logged an impressive 344 passenger units in July, signalling a strong immediate appetite for the new 4x4 offering.

Combined with the steady performance of the Prado (255 units) and the Land Cruiser 300 (139 units), Toyota's heavy-duty SUV stable continues to command a dominant share of local adventure seekers' budgets. Over on the commercial side, the legendary Land Cruiser Pick-Up chipped in another 465 units to solidify the badge's workhorse credentials.

Stellantis' big dilemma: The Citroën lifeline

Stellantis closed July with 488 passenger car sales, but a quick peek at the details reveals a heavy reliance on a single badge.

• Citroën accounted for a staggering 92.6% of Stellantis' passenger volume (452 units), anchored by the C3 (349 units), C3 Aircross (55 units), and newly introduced Basalt (48 units).

• Without Citroën, the rest of the Stellantis passenger stable—comprising Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Opel, Peugeot, and Leapmotor—managed just 36 combined sales nationwide.

Across the entire brand portfolio (including LCVs like the Peugeot Landtrek, at 165 units), Stellantis moved 672 units in total. Strip away Citroën’s contribution, and that total shrinks to 220 vehicles.

The Chinese brand invasion gains serious momentum

If there was ever any doubt about local buyers embracing Chinese auto OEMs, July's figures put it to rest.

• Chery Auto posted a massive 2 709 passenger units, with the budget-friendly Tiggo 4 Pro (2 110 units) doing heavy lifting.

• Jetour made a loud statement with 2 034 passenger units. The rugged Jetour T2 (925 units) and T1 (451 units) quickly hit their stride alongside the Dashing (428 units).

• GWM recorded 1 968 passenger units—led by the perennial favourite Haval Jolion (1 132 units) and the newly introduced electric Ora 5 (276 units)—while adding 536 P-Series bakkies in the LCV segment.

• Omoda & Jaecoo combined for 1 502 passenger units, driven by the Omoda C5 (889 units) and the newly arrived Jaecoo J5 (367 units).

• BYD registered 738 passenger sales (highlighted by 227 Dolphin Surfs and 180 Sealion 6s) alongside 122 units of its new Shark 6 double-cab bakkie.

Fresh faces and new energy arrivals

A selection of newly introduced models and refreshed favourites left their mark on the July sales sheets:

• EVs & Hybrids: GWM's Ora 5 debuted strongly at 276 units, while Toyota registered 11 units of its all-electric bZ4X.

• Established Mid-SUVs: Toyota’s RAV4 logged 246 units, while Nissan recorded 14 units for the X-Trail.

• Premium compact crossovers: Audi's Q3 family totalled 144 units across the standard Q3 (50 units) and Q3 Sportback (94 units).

• People movers: Renault registered 12 units of the Trafic Passenger (PC).

Bakkie kings & volume champions stand firm

Despite intense competition, South Africa’s core volume pillars showed no sign of wavering:

• The Bakkie Battle: The Toyota Hilux retained top spot in LCVs with 4 189 local sales (and a massive 4 727 exports). The Ford Ranger held second place with 2 063 local units (2 904 exported), while the Isuzu D-Max took third with 1 969 units.

• Passenger car leaders: Suzuki Auto continued its rapid momentum with 5,665 passenger sales (led by the Swift at 1,916 and Fronx at 1 185). Volkswagen Group SA recorded 5 296 passenger units, anchored by Mzansi's favourite entry-level hatchback, the Polo Vivo (2 503 units).

What's Next?

As price sensitivity drives buyers toward value-packed compact crossovers, the competition between established brands and ambitious new entrants is tighter than ever. Stay tuned to AutoTrader as we continue to track the monthly sales battles shaping South Africa's roads.