India Drives South Africa's Car Market: Half of All Sales Have Indian Connection

• Half of cars sold in South Africa in 2025 have an India connection, either manufactured by Indian companies like Mahindra and Tata or with Indian-made components.
• Mahindra's Pikup series leads sales, and 84% of Japanese-branded light vehicles in SA in 2024 were imported from India.
• Despite high visibility of Chinese brands, India accounted for 36% of SA's vehicle imports in 2024, compared to China's 11%.
• India's share of passenger vehicle sales in South Africa reached 49% in the first five months of 2025, largely due to Maruti Suzuki and its supply to Toyota.
• This trend offers price relief for buyers but raises concerns for South Africa's local automotive industry, contrasting with 2009 when local production dominated.

Why It Matters: India is rapidly becoming the dominant source for vehicles in South Africa, impacting both buyers and local industry.