Chinese Automakers Are Reshaping South Africa’s Used Car Market - CleanTechnica

South Africa’s used car market is undergoing significant changes, driven by a combination of interest rate cuts and the rising presence of Chinese automakers. Following two interest rate reductions in early 2025, borrowing costs have decreased, boosting used car sales by 7% in the first half of the year compared to 2024, with over 181,000 vehicles sold generating R75.85 billion in revenue. While traditional brands from Germany, Japan, Europe, South Korea, and the U.S. have long dominated the market, Chinese brands like BYD, Omoda, and Jaecoo have seen their used car sales surge by 89% in H1 2025, albeit from a relatively small base. Chinese automakers are also influencing the market through their introduction of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), a segment that has historically struggled in South Africa. More PHEVs were sold in the first half of 2025 than in the entire previous year, with Chinese