The all-new Toyota Starlet Cross
Image: Supplied / TOYOTA South Africa Motors
MY NIECE must have been around three years old at the time, and she found herself at aftercare surrounded by other children her age.
She’s older now, so please don’t let her know I told this story. You know how teenagers can be.
Now we all know how toddlers can be: very competitive, and – according to the story I heard – a member of the staff at the aftercare overheard a debate, an argument, even a disagreement between my niece and a classmate.
It was a typical four-year-old debate: “My daddy is stronger than your daddy,” said one of the girls.
“No, my pappa is ‘a hundred’ strong,” said my niece.
Well my daddy is ‘a thousand’ strong,” replied her competitor.
You know how it went after that, first a dad was ‘a million’ strong, and the other turned out to be … wait for it … ‘a billion’ strong!
My niece hadn’t learned her trillions yet, but she wasn’t going to be beaten by this upstart. She replied without blinking: “My pappa will m**r your daddy!”
The staff member at the centre then decided that it was nap time.
I tell this true story to let the reader know that this short article is written without bias; it’s simply information. Let’s be honest: most debates about who’s the best – whether it’s favourite sports teams, coffee brands, or cars – are usually just a matter of opinion. But sometimes, the numbers do the talking.
So let’s simply look at the data.
And the latest national vehicle sales figures from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (naamsa) are doing exactly that – shouting, in fact – that Toyota is firmly in the driver’s seat.
In June 2025, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) maintained its lead in the South African automotive market, claiming nearly 25% of all new vehicle sales – a significant chunk in a very competitive space. That’s thanks in no small part to ever-popular models like the Hilux bakkie and the Corolla Cross, which continue to be trusted favourites for both families and fleet buyers.
South Africa’s new vehicle market as a whole had a strong June, with total domestic sales jumping 18.7% compared to this time last year. Passenger car sales were up by more than 21%, and light commercial vehicles – which include bakkies and taxis – rose by almost 15%. Toyota alone moved over 7,000 passenger cars, and more than 3,000 Hiluxes rolled off dealership floors.
The company also recorded its best month of 2025 for fleet sales, supplying nearly 4,000 vehicles to businesses, with models like the Fortuner, Extra Cab Hilux, and Land Cruiser Pick-Up proving especially popular.
And while the Hilux was once again the top dog in the LCV segment, the Corolla Cross hit pole position as South Africa’s top-selling passenger vehicle for the month – not bad for a car that’s made right here at home.
So while no one’s niece needed to shout “my pappa drives a Toyota” to win an argument, the numbers seem to suggest that if she did, she’d have a pretty strong case.
Passenger Vehicles:
Corolla Cross – over 2,000 units (SA’s top seller)
Fortuner – 878 units (9th overall)
Starlet – 852 units (10th overall)
Vitz – 794 units (up 170 units from May)
Lexus – 104 units (NX – 34, GX – 33)
Light Commercial Vehicles:
Hilux – 3,032 units (26.3% LCV market share)
Land Cruiser 79 – 591 units (6th)
Hiace – 524 units (7th)
Medium & Heavy Trucks:
Hino 500 & 700 – 139 units (up from May)
Fleet Sales:
3,931 units sold to businesses – best month of 2025 (notable performers: Corolla Cross, Fortuner, Hilux Extra Cab, Land Cruiser Pick-Up)
Parts & Exports:
Over 1.9 million parts sold locally309,621 parts exported
4,247 vehicles exported internationally
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