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AutoTrader Insights Highlight Strong Year-End Buyer Activity in SA’s New and Used Car Markets

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At a Glance – November 2025 Car Sales

Used Cars

  • Sales: 33,705 (-6.5% MoM, -3.6% YoY)
  • Average price: R410,620 (+7.1% MoM)
  • Top seller: Volkswagen Polo (1,482 units)

Trend: The used car market remains steady despite a softer November. Buyer activity suggests a healthy demand supported by competitive year-end dealer promotions.

New Cars

  • Sales: 39,158 (-1.24% MoM, +10.97% YoY)
  • Average financed value: R405,182 (+7.1% YoY)
  • Top seller: Volkswagen Polo Vivo (2,862 units)

Trend: The new car market continues to show strong momentum, with consistent year-on-year growth pointing to sustained consumer confidence.

November 2025 has seen decreases in both sectors, however, sales remain robust and continue to reflect the positive consumer sentiment that has characterised the year. While both month-on-month (MoM) figures declined for used car sales, year-on-year (YoY) sales for new cars have increased, suggesting the industry is on track to end the year strongly.

According to the latest used-car sales data from AutoTrader, 33,705 used cars were sold last month. This represents a -6.5% decrease compared to October 2025 (36,042), and a year-on-year decline of -3.6% compared to November 2024, when 34,968 vehicles were sold. Despite the dip, this remains a solid performance and aligns with trends seen earlier in the year, with October standing out as an exceptional month.

“Even though the used car market has cooled a little in November, it’s actually one of the most rewarding months for buyers,” commented George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “The last three months of the year, in particular, are when dealerships sharpen their pencils to meet annual targets, and often roll out Black Friday-driven specials. That means shoppers often find opportunities in November they won’t see earlier in the year.”

naamsa | The Automotive Business Council also reported a MoM decline (-1.24%), but YoY figures show substantial growth. November 2025 recorded 39,158 new vehicles sold—not far off October 2025’s 39,648 units. November 2024 saw 35,287 new vehicles sold, reflecting a YoY increase of +11%. naamsa adds that “year-to-date, the new vehicle market was +15.4% ahead of the corresponding period in 2024,” highlighting the strong growth experienced over the past 11 months.

According to Wesbank, the value of new cars financed by the institution averaged R405,182, a +7.1% increase over November 2024, when the average was R378,4881. A similar trend was evident in October 2025, which saw a +8.2% YoY increase.

A comparable pattern is evident in the used-car market. Interestingly, the average price of a used car remains higher than that of new cars, based on AutoTrader’s data. The average price of a used vehicle sold in November 2025 stood at R410,620, compared to R405,713 in November 2024. While October 2025 recorded a substantially higher average of R447,046, November’s figure aligns more closely with earlier months. This may be attributed to Black Friday deals and other end-of-year promotions that encouraged buyers by offering discounted stock.

In terms of average mileage, November 2025 recorded both a MoM and YoY decrease, with an average of 72,311 km for used cars sold last month. This is an improvement on the 72,726 km recorded in October 2025 and the 73,711 km recorded in November 2024.

Last month, the Polo Vivo was the top-selling used passenger car. However, its more upmarket sibling, the Polo, reclaimed the top spot in November with 1,482 units sold. The budget-friendly Polo Vivo followed closely with 1,405 units, while the Fortuner achieved 725 units. These were followed by the Suzuki Swift (716), Toyota Corolla Cross (579), and Toyota Starlet (520).

In the new passenger car market, the Polo Vivo remains the top-selling vehicle, achieving an impressive 2,862 units last month. It was followed by the Suzuki Swift (2,364), the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (1,838), and the Toyota Corolla Cross (1,651), mirroring the top four sellers from the previous month.

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Author: Press Release from Have Your Say ZA on behalf of AuoTrader.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.