South Africa Q2 2026 Mobility Insights Report
How resilient demand, Chinese expansion and rising fraud risk are defining the market
While passenger vehicle demand stayed buoyant in Q2 2026, a sharper external shock and rising ownership costs helped create a more complex landscape for OEMs, dealers, lenders and insurers.
The TransUnion® Q2 2026 Mobility Insights Report draws on NaTIS, Naamsa, Stats SA and TransUnion Consumer Pulse Survey data to analyse what's influencing sales performance, consumer behaviour and the widening risks that come with a broadening market. Specifically, it reveals:
- Passenger vehicle sales grew 15.8% year over year (the strongest annual growth in three quarters) despite a fuel-price shock that revived inflation
- Chinese brands accounted for around one in five vehicles sold, moving from challengers to mainstream competitors
- Affordability concerns changed the new-versus-used decision, driving the used-to-new ratio up from 2.3 to 2.7
- Consumer interest in electrified vehicles was concentrated around hybrids, with plug-in hybrids gaining ground
- Growth across used vehicles, rental and alternative financing increased fraud risk — strengthening the case for connected controls
Access TransUnion's latest mobility intelligence to help inform your pricing, financing and portfolio strategies as market conditions evolve.
“One of the most encouraging findings from this quarter's report is that South Africans have not stepped away from vehicle ownership despite a more challenging economic backdrop. What we are seeing instead is a more pragmatic consumer. Mobility remains essential, but consumers are carefully weighing affordability, financing costs, fuel efficiency and long-term ownership expenses before making purchasing decisions.”
- Ayesha Hatea, Director, Research and Consulting, TransUnion Africa
Download the Q1 2026 Mobility Insights Report
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