Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Toyota Celebrates Sales Leadership in South Africa

By H&H Admin

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) marked 42 years as the best-selling automotive brand in South Africa.

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) marked 42 years as the best-selling automotive brand in South Africa with a remarkable market share of 25.4%.This means that one in every four vehicles sold locally in 2021 was a Toyota product. Out of the industry total of 464 122, an aggregate of 117 659 units were delivered by TSAM.

The last time TSAM registered a market share higher than 25% was in 2003, and it was not necessarily a good year for the industry as total automotive sales were just slightly above 380 000. 

This was followed by a few years where Toyota garnered a market share just above 19%. Worthy of mention however is that for the past five years, Toyota has been punching above a 20% share – an unprecedented run of success by any local automotive brand in recent history.

Hilux retains its title as the country’s best-selling vehicle with a total of 36 085 units sold – most of which were double cabs. Hiace also continued its supremacy as the ‘people mover’ of choice with a total of 15 699 models sold. The two heroes, assisted by other light commercial vehicle (LCV) models such as Land Cruiser pick-up and Dyna, propelled TSAM to its highest LCV market share of 42.2%. 

Toyota’s market share of 19.2% in the passenger segment is the highest in the last 12 years – matching a similar figure in 2018 – and comes in the wake of two stellar performances by the Corolla Cross in November and December. 

Other notable figures were posted by Starlet and Urban Cruiser last year – 12 103 and 8 899 respectively for 2021. Toyota’s truck division Hino posted an impressive market share of 25.1% in the Medium Commercial Vehicle (MCV) segment and registered a 5.5% share in Heavy Commercial Vehicles.

TSAM is also proud that its Parts’ Supply business distributed no less than 16 million items to domestic dealers, while close to 4 million pieces were shipped outside of the country in 2021.

Toyota Sales Breakdown

In December, TSAM continued to power ahead with sales of 9 580 – leading in both Passenger (5 603) and LCV (3 699) segments for the second month in a row.  The December retail represents 26.6% of the total sales of 35 948 units reported by NAAMSA. 

Stand-out performances were recorded by SA’s favourite bakkie Hilux (2 426); the new Corolla Cross (1 752); the affordable Starlet (1 180) as well as the evergreen Hiace (1 024). 

Lexus recorded a total of 51 sales, including 20 ES and 10 RX models. Hino recorded a total of 249 sales. The 300-Series posted 150 units while the 500-Series sold 72 models. 

Toyota Parts Sales

From a parts perspective, 1.2 million pieces were supplied to domestic dealers while a further 305 000 units were shipped across the borders in December.

According Leon Theron, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSAM: “The last month of the year is not traditionally successful when it comes vehicles sales. This is mainly due to the limited days of doing business as well as many customers and dealers withholding vehicle registrations in order to record new models in the New Year. However, we are truly grateful for the 26.6% market share recorded last month.”

Theron also paid tribute to Toyota’s employees, dealers and other business partners for their support: “When we established the brand in South Africa in 1961, we focused on establishing a wide dealer network that directly serves customers. We genuinely appreciate all those who have been part of the Toyota journey to date, including dealers, staff as well as all the various brand ambassadors and customers.”

New Cars On The Tarmac

Here are a few of the latest cars available on the market in South Africa.

  1. DATSUN GO

Anilda van Heedern attended the launch of the new Automatic CVT (continuous variable transmission) versions of the Datsun GO and GO+ which now have improved power and fuel economy.

The new Datsun Go models are equipped with a three-cylinder engine which delivers 57kW of power (7kW more than in the manual) and 104Nm of torque. They also come with dual airbags, ABS with EBD and BA, reverse parking sensors, follow-me-home headlamps, front and rear power windows, battery saving features, remote key, power steering and 14” machined Alloy wheels. The vehicles are available in a range of exciting colours including Red, Silver, Grey, White, Orange and the new colour Vivid Blue (additionally we have Sandstone Brown for GO+).

Anilda’s most memorable impressions are: 

LIKES

  • USB port
  • LCD touch screen
  • Apple/Android interface
  • 2 cup holders in front of handbrake area
  • Very fuel efficient (around 5L per 100km)

DISLIKES

  • Lack of quick acceleration e.g. to overtake a truck.
  • Petrol gauge is small and not that visible.
  • Seat belts don’t adjust up or down.
  • The boot only opens with a key, and there is no door handle on the boot door either
  • Using the handbrake is a must even when the car is in Park as it does not hold a dead stop but continues to run either back/forward for a few centimetres.  

Starting price: R

  • PEUGEOT 5008

The all-new PEUGEOT 5008 breaks new ground as a large seven-seater SUV.  Featuring a raised ride height, it’s striking front includes a prominent chrome grille with decorative chrome inserts, signature headlamps with LED daytime running lights, slanted rear windows and a three-claw LED lights, integrated into the rear black panel. 

Offering an exceptional on-board experience for occupants and a myriad of smart features for additional driving ease, the Peugeot 5008 boasts a compact steering wheel, an 8” touchscreen, and a 12.3” high-resolution digital head-up instrument.  Seven central satin chrome dashboard switches offer quick access to functionssuch as: Radio, Air Conditioning, Satellite Navigation, vehicle settings, telephone, apps, and hazard warning lights.  

Ideal for families, the 5008’s has aninnovative seating configuration- three matching, separate, folding and tilting seats in the second rowand two removable, separate, folding seats in the third row; as well as a practical hands-free smart electric tailgate.

The Peugeot 5008 is available in two petrol engines – 1.6L THP 121kW six speed automaticand 2.0L HDI 110kW six-speed automatic.

Starting Price: R534 900-00 incl. VAT

  • TOYOTA QUANTUM VX

Signalling new territory for the Toyota Quantum range, the Quantum VX enters the luxury-people-carrier arena with an impressive array of luxury and comfort features.  It features17” alloy wheels, a large chrome-finished radiator grille, chrome exterior door handles and power adjustable, auto-retracting mirrors, with blind spot monitoring functionality.

The 9-seater Quantum VX provides a limousine-like degree of cabin comfort for up to eight passengers, including a large captain’s chair, independent rear climate control and multiple USB ports, quilted leather upholstery, power-adjustment for the backrest and a fold out “ottoman” leg-rest.  Other features consist of an array of driver assistance features as part of the Toyota Safety Sense suite.  These include Pre-Collision Safety system (PCS) with pedestrian detection (day and night) and cyclist detection (day only); high-speed active cruise control; lane departure alert; road sign assist; as well as a 4.2” multi-information display, rain-sensing wipers, LED room lamps, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, power windows and rear sunshade, to mention a few.

Powering the Quantum VX is a 6-speed automatic transmission linked to Toyota’s proven four-cylinder 2.8 GD-6 turbodiesel engine, with outputs of 115kW and 420Nm.

Priced at: R 843 600

  • MAZDA2 FACELIFT

Featuring a new, more sophisticated design, new Skyactiv-Technologies and enhanced i-Activsense safety features, an upgraded version of the  popular hatchback, the Mazda2, is now available. 

With a very capable 1.5L petrol engine in both manual and automatic transmissions, the G-Generation Mazda2 range consists of six derivatives made up of the Active (Entry spec), Dynamic (Mid spec) and Individual and Hazumi (High spec) grade levels. 

Comfort and convenience on board have been improved through the availability of the Bluetooth hands-free system across the range, from the Dynamic model; an auto- dimming rear view mirror, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), for smoother vehicle movements and handling. 

An expanded range of advanced safety features now includes LED headlamps fitted as standard across the model range. Side and curtain airbags, auto dimming rear-view mirror from the Dynamic model. Auto fold mirrors, reverse camera, rear parking sensors from the Individual model and Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Hazumi. 

Starting price:  R254 300