Five Key Takeaways for SA at Toyota’s SOMI Conference

Not just reserved for unveiling the new models anticipated to hit the local market in the year, Toyota’s SOMI also provided some valuable insight for the South African motoring sphere.

Image: Toyota

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Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) once again used its annual State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) event as a platform to provide insights into the continually evolving automotive landscape. The event featured key presentations from TSAM’s President and CEO, Andrew Kirby, and Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Leon Theron.

Related: Toyota Confirms Four Refreshed Models for SA at SOMI

In his presentation, Kirby shared a few industry-related trends being noticed:

  1. Consumers are increasingly opting for smaller, more affordable vehicles, as evidenced by a shift from C- and D-segment cars to the B-segment. Data from Lightstone Auto reveals that the average selling price of passenger vehicles declined by 2.27% in 2024, reinforcing this trend.
  2. The SUV and crossover segment continues to expand. In 2018, 114 model ranges fell into this category; by 2024, that number had grown to 166, with SUVs now accounting for more than half of all passenger vehicle sales.
  3. Modern consumers expect a more immersive driving experience. Features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard, even in entry-level models such as the Toyota Starlet Cross. Personalisation, connectivity, and intuitive user interfaces—such as those found in the Lexus RX—are becoming industry norms.
  4. South Africa is increasingly sourcing vehicles from India and China. Kirby noted a significant shift in global production, with China’s market share growing from 29% in 2018 to 32% in 2023. Meanwhile, German manufacturing has slipped from the top five globally. Locally produced vehicle sales have also declined, from 46% in 2018 to 43% in 2023, while imports from India and China have surged from 18% to 37% in the same period.
  5. Kirby and expert panellist Greg Cress highlighted the rapid adoption of NEVs. While globally, one in five cars sold is an EV, South Africa has lagged behind. However, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s success—jumping from 4 000 units in 2022 to an expected 12 500 in 2024—signals a shift. Cress predicted that without BEV incentives, mass adoption (5% of the total) would occur only by 2032, whereas with proper incentives, this milestone could be reached by 2029.

Related: Toyota Warns Subsidised Chinese Imports Could Further De-Industrialise SA

More importantly, Kirby added that the South African auto sector needs to strive to sell more than 600 000 new vehicles throughout the year which will help place the country in a more favourable position for foreign investment. The market has still not yet recovered from pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels but panellists including Mikel Mabasa from Naamsa were encouraged by an upswing in consumer sentiment following the formulation of the GNU.

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The post Five Key Takeaways for SA at Toyota’s SOMI Conference appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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