Time to comb through Naamsa’s detailed monthly sales figures once again to identify South Africa’s best-selling bakkies for March 2022. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers…
South Africa’s new-vehicle sales “exceeded expectations” in March 2022, with the industry’s overall figure growing 16.5% year on year to 50 607 units, representing the highest monthly total since pre-COVID days. Domestic sales of new light-commercial vehicles (including bakkies), however, fell marginally (2.7%, to be precise) to 13 795 units.
So, what happened in the traditional bakkie market? Well, since Toyota reported a record sales month (cracking the 15 000-unit mark for the first time) in March 2022, the Hilux predictably led the charge. The Japanese bakkie added more than 1 000 units to its February 2022 tally to end on a whopping 4 561 units. Much of that volume came courtesy of the dealer channel, though 586 units were registered to the government and 199 units were sold via the rental space.
With the launch of a new generation now mere days away, the outgoing Isuzu D-Max (1 378 units) – which will live on in South Africa rebranded as the D-Max Gen 6 – held steady in 2nd place, but it only just held off the Nissan NP200 (1 327 units), which in 2023 will perhaps finally get some competition in the form of the Renault Oroch. The outgoing Ford Ranger (1 052 units) again had to settle for 4th place, but at least found itself on the right side of 1 000 units in March 2022.
The impressively consistent KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up (711 units) remained unmoved in 5th spot, while the Rosslyn-built Nissan Navara (603 units) climbed 2 places to grab 6th. Boosted by 200 sales to the rental market, the imported GWM Steed (493 units) retained 7th place, while its sibling the P-Series (441 units) fell two to 8th.
The evergreen Toyota Land Cruiser 79 (242 units) and outgoing Volkswagen Amarok (144 units) again closed out the table. VW has, of course, already released a number of teaser images of its upcoming second-generation Amarok, which will share a platform with the new Ford Ranger and be built in the same Silverton factory in South Africa.
Best of the rest in March 2022
What about the so-called bit-part players? Well, the Mahindra Bolero (100) was again the best of the rest in March 2022, while the Mitsubishi Triton range – which recently gained a new base model – added a handful of sales to its previous-month figure to total 33 units. The Peugeot Landtrek shed three units to end on 27, while Mazda had to make do with registering just 18 examples of its BT-50 (two more than it managed in February).
Export winners in March 2022
A whopping 6 423 units (up 1 552 units from February) of the Toyota Hilux were shipped from local shores in March, with the Ford Ranger’s export figure coming in at 3 652 units (down 1 060 units from February). The Isuzu D-Max (633), Nissan Navara (436) and Nissan Hardbody (31) made up the numbers.
10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa for March 2022
1. Toyota Hilux – 4 561 units
2. Isuzu D-Max – 1 378 units
3. Nissan NP200 – 1 327 units
4. Ford Ranger – 1 052 units
5. Mahindra Pik Up – 711 units
6. Nissan Navara – 603 units
7. GWM Steed – 493 units
8. GWM P-Series – 441 units
9. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 – 242 units
10. Volkswagen Amarok – 144 units
