While the year 2021 showed remarkable improvement in terms of new car sales in
South Africa, it is useful to note that those came off the anomaly that was 2020, in which the market saw a 30% dip. With last year recording 464 122 total market sales and 303 961 Passenger Car sales, the outlook for 2022 is already quite optimistic. Add to that new entrants and products to the market and we have a year to look forward to. Touch wood.
So, what can we expect to see this year? Well we have compiled a list of a number of cars – not all of them because some of them are still under wraps. In Alphabetical order:
Audi
Audi e-tron, e-tron GT and
e-tron Sportback are the brand’s offering in the electric vehicle (
EV) space. They come as an
SUV, a
coupe and a
coupe SUV respectively. The fierce
RS 3 is also joining them.
BMW
The new
BMW 2 Series Coupe makes its debut with a different design and new interior, as well as a range of engines.
BMW i4 is an electric version of the
4 Series and the
BMW X1 gets updated.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
Chery’s flagship
SUV offers 7 seats and plenty of technology as standard, and will be available from January 2022.
Ford
Ford Everest and
Ranger are two of that brand’s biggest products in both popularity and size. All-new shape models will spark further interest when they arrive.
Haval
Haval has broken into the top 10 best-selling car companies in
South Africa. The
H6 HEV hybrid and
H6 GT should elevate its position as a tech powerhouse.
Honda
The updated
Honda BR-V will be a popular choice for small people movers. Similarly the
HR-V re-enters a busy segment with many competitors.
Hyundai
Brand
Hyundai is focused on performance with the new
Kona N sub-compact
SUV and
i30N DCT automatic.
INEOS
New to South Africa,
INEOS Grenadier reimagines the rugged
4x4 off-roader based on the old Land Rover Defender.
Isuzu
D-MAX is Isuzu’s most important product in sales and because it is locally produced. The new model should help it stay in the top 3 best-selling bakkies list.
Jeep
This American brand under the Stellantis company has been quiet for a while. This year they are coming out thick with two of their traditional sales leaders in the
Compass and
Grand Cherokee.
Kia
Kia has been known for smaller cars, but in 2022 they will launch their largest, namely the
Kia Sorento and
Carnival (back to Carnival from Grand Sedona). A new
Sportage is also on the cards.
Land Rover
The most important car in the
Land Rover stable this year is definitely the all-new luxury
Range Rover SUV.
Lexus
Lexus is focusing on the
SUV genre this year, thanks to an all-new
LX big boy and the smaller
NX.
Mercedes-Benz
Following a tough 2021 in sales,
Mercedes-Benz SA needs some big wins. These may be delivered by the new
C-Class and
S-Class. On a smaller scale the
EQ full-electric range arrives too, and so does the new
SL.
Mitsubishi
Triton has been swimming against some pretty big sharks in the bakkie segment. Although it is generally considered a good product, an update should improve lacklustre sales.
Opel
Two previously popular
Opel products –
Grandland and
Mokka – come back into our market. Notice that
Mokka has returned to its original name without the
X.
Electric Mokka too? Let’s see.
Porsche
Porsche is riding a high success wave right now and the upcoming products will keep the sales ticking away nicely. These include
718 Cayman GT4 RS,
911 GT3 and
Panamera GTS.
Renault
Not much activity has been happening with the French brand but the new, long-awaited
Clio 5 and
Captur can spark renewed interest for buyers.
Toyota
Toyota has been taking exceptional market share on volume over the past two years. This year they are levelling up with special and niche models like the
Corolla Cross GR Sport,
GR 86 Coupe,
Hilux GR Sport and
RAV4 Hybrid (new grades).
Volkswagen
Three of the
Volkswagen brand’s most important cars will arrive over the next year. The new
Polo in hatch and sedan (later on), the
Taigo sub-compact
SUV and the
Amarok bakkie will set the market ablaze.
Volvo XC60
Volvo is shrinking in our market. However, the updated
XC60 can turn that tide around and offer buyers something to get excited about.
