One of the most notable structural shifts in the South African automotive market is the continued rise of Chinese automotive brands – this according to TransUnion’s First Quarter (Q1) 2026 Mobility Insights Report.
Chinese car sales grew by 75% year-on-year in Q1 2026, significantly outpacing traditional brands’ growth of 2%, as well as broader passenger and light commercial vehicle (LCV) market growth of 12.7%.
As a result, Chinese brands accounted for more than 19% of new passenger and LCV sales nationally.
This means that nearly one in five new vehicles sold in South Africa was from a Chinese manufacturer in the first quarter of this year.
The shift is no longer driven solely by entry-level pricing, states the TransUnion report.
