There are many ways to gauge the state of a country’s economy, such as the property market, employment rate and many others. In South Africa, the shift from German luxury cars to more affordable Asian brands has given some an idea of where the economy stands.
Over the past few years, social media has been riddled with South African citizens using various platforms to express concern and frustration over what they believe is the country’s economy’s continuous decline. The current state of the economy has forced adapt by adopting alternative lifestyles and doing and buying things a little bit differently than before.
One sector that has seen a drastic change is Mzansi’s motor industry, it is clear that the current buying patterns and popular brands are not the same ones that have been front runners in the past. Business Tech reports that there has been a significant decline in the purchasing of common and popular luxury branded cars, which are usually German or European such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
This decline has been evident in the numbers, as the above-mentioned publication revealed that these companies experienced an approximate 64% drop in sales., with Mercedes-Benz emerging as the biggest loser compared to their counterparts.
I didn’t realise just how much the luxury German brands have been losing sales to Asian brands until I read a @BusinessTechSA story, published yesterday:
“In 2014, luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, Mini, and Mercedes-Benz collectively sold around 74,015 vehicles in South Africa.…
— Wendy Knowler (@wendyknowler) February 25, 2025
It is Asian motor companies who have emerged as the victors in this case, as their sales have skyrocketed over the past decade, most likely due to their more affordable prices and manageable fuel consumption. In the same period that the German brands have seen a steady decline, Asian brands such as Suzuki, Haval and Chery have experienced exponential growth in their sales in South Africa, as motorists explore alternative options to their once-loved brands that have essentially priced them out of becoming new or returning customers.
German automakers are getting hit with a triple whammy:
1) Losing out to Chinese EVs in China
2) Sluggish auto sales in Europe
3) And now tariffs on exports from their Mexico plants to the US pic.twitter.com/ZSCFiuoJX8— Kyle Chan (@kyleichan) February 2, 2025
Users have applauded and encouraged the introduction of Asian brands as they believe it not only provides consumers with options but also brings about much-needed competition to manufacturers who were able to overcharge due to the lack of options for consumers. However, these users have expressed concern over the durability of these cars as some have already been revealed to cause issues for their owners.
I’m enjoying the decline in public perception in the value of overpriced German cars.
Thank you, China!— Skhumbuzo Jwara (@Skhumbuzo123) January 13, 2025
Chinese cars maybe cheaper but long term reliability needs to be assessed.
Buying a brand new German car is ridiculous. It’s better to buy them demo or slighty used with the desired extras .
Toyota’s are getting expensive too but they’re always reliable and parts are cheap. https://t.co/doBKHVwVt7— Agent of Chaos 🃏 (@naeem_mo_17) February 26, 2025
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