Recently, the South African Motor Industry Association (Naamsa) released new car sales data for September 2026. The overall sales of new cars in the South African new car market reached 61,645 units that month, a year-on-year increase of 12.7%; among them, the light commercial vehicle (LCV) sector sales were 14,361 units, a year-on-year increase of 9.6%. As the "basic foundation" of South African car consumption, pickups have the dual attributes of production tools and family vehicles, and their monthly sales rankings have always been regarded as a barometer of the car market.

In September, the total sales of the top 20 pickups in the South Africa sales ranking were about 12,390 units, a month-on-month increase of about 6.1% compared to 11,675 units in August, with market enthusiasm further enhanced compared to August. The biggest highlight of the ranking is that the Isuzu D-Max surpassed the Ford Ranger again after half a year, and the top three positions saw a rare swap.

At the top level, although Toyota Hilux sales dropped 2.9% month-on-month to 3,769 units, it still firmly held the top spot with an absolute advantage of leading the second place by more than 1,200 units. The currently available Hilux is produced by the Durban Prospecton plant, where the eighth and ninth generation models are sold together, and its status as the "King of South African Pickups" remains hard to shake in the short term.

The real contest is between the second and third places. Isuzu D-Max increased by 27.2% month-on-month to 2,551 units, rising to second, including 516 units of government procurement orders, accounting for about two-tenths of its total sales; this is the second time this year it has surpassed Ranger since March. Ford Ranger manufactured by Silverton plant sold 2,502 units, increasing 5.4% month-on-month, setting a new monthly high for many years, but still placed third with a slight gap of 49 units. The two locally made pickups are showing a close combat situation.

In the second tier, Mahindra Pik Up dropped 14.9% month-on-month to 521 units, holding fourth; Great Wall P-Series (including P300 and P500, P500 equipped with all-new 3.0T diesel power) decreased 12.1% month-on-month to 517 units, following closely with a difference of only 4 units, and has firmly held the top spot for Chinese brand pickups for several consecutive months. Volkswagen Amarok rose sharply by 22.5% month-on-month to 430 units, surpassing Toyota LC79 to rise to sixth; Land Cruiser 79 dropped slightly by 3.5% month-on-month to 419 units, falling to seventh.

The competition among other top 10 models is also fierce. JAC T Series increased 3.7% month-on-month to 255 units, rising to eighth; its 360 kW T9 plug-in hybrid version will also be launched soon; Mahindra Bolero increased by 46.8% month-on-month to 226 units, Peugeot Landtrek soared by 55.6% month-on-month to 207 units, both of which have entered the top 10.

Those falling out of the top 10 are Nissan Navara and Foton Tunland. Affected by the suspension of production at Rosslyn plant in May and the production line being handed over to Chery, Navara plummeted 37.2% month-on-month to 184 units, ranking only 11th, resulting in one less seat for Japanese brands in the top 10; and Chery taking over the Rosslyn plant also means that Chinese automakers in South Africa are moving from product exports to production capacity localization. Foton Tunland sales were 179 units, increasing 13.3% month-on-month, ranking 12th.

Other Chinese brands performed steadily overall. BYD Shark 6 increased 23.6% month-on-month to 157 units, JMC Bus also increased 16.2% month-on-month to 151 units, SAIC Maxus T60 increased 6.7% month-on-month to 128 units. Changan Hunter surged 330% month-on-month to 99 units, with the highest increase among the entire ranking; Mitsubishi Triton manufactured in Thailand and Kia Tasman were 53 units and 30 units respectively, both refreshing their best achievements for the year. The 8 Chinese brand pickups listed totaled about 1,495 units, an increase of about 6.8% month-on-month, accounting for more than 12% of the total ranking sales, and are becoming an important force driving market expansion.

Final Thoughts: In September 2026, the South Africa pickup market presented a pattern of "overall recovery, top swap, Chinese brand advance". With Navara local production capacity exiting and plug-in hybrid pickups entering one after another, the ranking battle on this list in the fourth quarter will still be full of uncertainties.

In September 2026, the Australian new car market delivered a total of 108,778 units, up 1.8% year-on-year. The electrification wave continues to sweep the market: Battery electric vehicles accounted for 26,287 units, 24.2% share, surpassing gasoline vehicles for the second consecutive month (26,018 units, down 36.2% year-on-year), with pure electric sales surging 117.7% year-on-year; Plug-in hybrids increased by 122.7% to 10,072 units, with BYD and Tesla emerging as the biggest winners. Ford Ranger reclaims the sales championship.

Pickup market shrinks, traditional diesel models decline across the board

By model count, 24 pickup models with sales in the Australian market totaled 18,406 units in September, a decrease of approximately 13% compared to the same period last year; the light commercial vehicle sector overall declined 13.2%, forming a sharp contrast with the 6.1% growing SUV market.

Pickups bear heavy load and towing tasks, electrification naturally lags behind passenger cars, but under high oil prices and transformation pressure, traditional diesel models have declined across the board for several consecutive months: Isuzu D-Max sold 1,866 units (-6.2%), Mitsubishi Triton 1,202 units (-30.6%), Great Wall Cannon 852 units (-31.6%), Mazda BT-50 843 units (-22.5%), Kia Tasman 355 units (-56.0%), Nissan Navara 338 units (-34.9%), Volkswagen Amarok 244 units (-42.7%), KGM Musso 85 units (-38.4%), Jeep Gladiator only 5 units (-80%); Toyota Land Cruiser 70 plummeted 96.1% year-on-year to 36 units.

Ranger returns to the top spot, top positions set

The top spot in September's Australian pickup sales was Ford Ranger, with 5,062 units delivered in September, up 4.0% year-on-year, doubling month-on-month compared to 2,440 units in August, while surpassing Toyota RAV4 (4,624 units) and Tesla Model Y (4,476 units), becoming the best-selling model in the entire market. The second and third positions were Toyota HiLux (4,455 units, -11.7%) and Isuzu D-Max (1,866 units, -6.2%) respectively; BYD Shark 6 ranked fourth with 1,492 units, Mitsubishi Triton ranked fifth with 1,202 units, Great Wall Cannon and Mazda BT-50 ranked sixth and seventh with 852 units and 843 units respectively.

In terms of annual cumulative figures, Ranger is 37,858 units, HiLux is 36,616 units, Model Y follows closely with 35,930 units, the gap between the three is around 2,000 units, and the annual sales championship is still in suspense.

Chinese brands grow against the trend, full-size pickup differentiation

The brands rising against the trend are almost exclusively Chinese brands. BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup ranking fourth on the pickup list delivered 1,492 units, up 25.1% year-on-year; Maxus LDV T60 sold 375 units (+68.9%), the higher positioned large pickup Terron 9 sold 239 units (+195.1%), Foton Tunland V7 sold 129 units, JAC T9 sold 58 units (-47.3%). Chinese brand pickups totaled 3,145 units, accounting for about 17% of that month's pickup market; vehicles made in China delivered in Australia in September totaled 42,358 units (+63.8%), while supply volume from Thailand, the traditional pickup production base, declined 15.2% year-on-year.

Full-size market differentiation is obvious: Chevrolet Silverado sold 154 units (-1.3%), Silverado HD sold 139 units (-26.5%), RAM 1500 sold 145 units (-38.3%), RAM 2500/3500 sold 68 units (+61.9%) and 32 units respectively; Ford F-150 sold 128 units (surge year-on-year due to low base), Toyota Tundra Hybrid sold 104 units (+92.6%).

Final notes: September data outlines a more complex picture than "electrification wins": Ranger briefly "recovered" thanks to supply restoration, but could not hide the continuous shrinkage of the traditional pickup market dominated by diesel; Chinese brands are the main growth pole, but growth does not rely entirely on electrification—Shark 6 grew 25.1% year-on-year in plug-in hybrid identity, while Chinese models like Maxus T60, Terron 9 that grew against the trend are actually diesel vehicles; the true factors determining sales remain price, product power, and model freshness. Pickup electrification direction is clear, but far from the decisive stage.

August 2026, Australia new car market deliveries reached 108,760 units, up 4.9% year-on-year. Behind the stable figures lies a historic shift in powertrains: 27,078 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) were delivered, surging 169.4% year-on-year. With a market share of 24.9%, BEVs surpassed petrol, diesel, and hybrid for the first time, becoming the top powertrain type in Australia; Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) also grew 171.1% to 10,591 units. The Tesla Model Y topped the overall model sales list, while BYD secured second place among brands with 8,231 units (+68.8%), making New Energy brands the biggest winners of the month.

As pickups bear heavy-load tasks such as hauling, towing, and off-roading, their requirements for range and power are far higher than ordinary passenger cars; consequently, their electrification lags significantly behind the overall market — but August data shows they can no longer stay isolated.

Toyota Hilux retained the pickup title with 4,833 units, but saw only a slight increase of 0.2% year-on-year, essentially standing still. Ford Ranger suffered a cliff-like drop, delivering only 2,440 units, plummeting 50.6% year-on-year — primarily due to a temporary delivery halt caused by safety concerns with side air curtains, resulting in a monthly loss of about 2,500 units, which is a supply-side shock rather than a demand collapse.

Isuzu D-Max delivered 1,708 units (-26.2%), Mitsubishi Triton 1,161 units (-23.8%), and Mazda BT-50 recorded 804 units (-29.4%); all three Japanese diesel pickups declined by double digits. Volkswagen Amarok 306 units (-27.7%), Nissan Navara 277 units (-53.2%), and Kia Tasman performed the worst with only 312 units, down 61.1% year-on-year.

Pickups manufactured in China continued to expand their presence. BYD Shark 6 led Chinese brand pickups with 1,385 units, followed closely by Great Wall Cannon with 827 units. Adding Maxus LDV pickups (T60 + Terron 9 totaling 423 units), Foton Tunland V7 (124 units), MG U9 (115 units), JAC T9 (77 units), and others, total Chinese pickups reached approximately 2,951 units, accounting for about 18.5% of the Australian pickup market. In contrast, vehicles manufactured in Thailand delivered 15,658 units in August, down 24.7% year-on-year, driven almost entirely by the contraction of the pickup segment — Thailand is the main production base for Japanese pickups.

Amidst the general decline, BYD Shark 6 grew 9.8% year-on-year, reaching a year-to-date total of 12,094 units, becoming one of the few mainstream pickups with positive growth. Its PHEV positioning balances electric driving experience with pickup utility needs, coupled with BYD's strong brand power and more competitive pricing, opening up new volume outside of traditional diesel pickups. Notably, New Energy itself is not a guarantee of growth; brand momentum, pricing, and supply rhythm are key.

The full-size pickup market showed clear divergence. Ford F-150 delivered 152 units (surged from a low base), Chevrolet Silverado 1500 delivered 148 units (-6.9%), and RAM 1500 fell 32.6% to 149 units. Premium pickups above A$100,000 overall grew 18.1% to 764 units, forming a contrast with mainstream market weakness.

Final thoughts: August data clearly shows that even in the pickup segment where electrification is inevitably lagging, traditional fuel powertrains are also feeling a clear chill. Ranger's delivery halt amplified the decline. BYD Shark 6's growth against the trend validated the viability of PHEVs in the pickup market. Chinese brands like Great Wall Cannon, Maxus LDV, and others became an undeniable force in the Australian pickup market through stable sales volumes and forward-looking new energy layouts. With Ranger resuming deliveries in September and more hybrids and EV pickups entering the market, how the Australian pickup landscape will change again remains to be seen.

Recently, an exclusive report from US media sent shockwaves through the global pickup community: Ford is developing a Bronco pickup, while the production prospects of the currently sold Ranger in the US are clouded.

According to the report, Ford "currently has no plans" to produce the next-generation Ranger at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. This factory, which also produces the Bronco SUV and Ranger, is set to transform into an exclusive Bronco production base by around 2030. Taking over the Ranger production line will be a midsize pickup based on Bronco, expected to launch between 2029 and 2030.

However, there is disagreement among media outlets regarding whether Ranger will stay or go in the US. Some believe Ranger will be completely discontinued and directly taken over by the Bronco pickup; others believe Ranger will be relocated to the Blue Oval City plant in Tennessee and continue to exist in a new generation by 2029 - Ford has confirmed it will produce a fuel pickup with a size close to Ranger in Tennessee, but has not specified if it will still be called Ranger. Industry forecasting firms judge: A Bronco-styled midsize pickup will replace Ranger at the Michigan plant in fall 2029.

In response to the reports, Ford's official response was vague, stating only that they do not comment on "future product speculation, much of which is inaccurate".

In April 2026, Ranger US sales volume was only 5,245 units, a year-on-year plunge of 25%, even being surpassed by Mustang; while the Bronco brand's sales volume in Q3 2025 grew 41.3% year-on-year, achieving its best quarterly performance in history. Using a high-premium Bronco pickup to replace the weak-selling Ranger makes complete financial sense.

For overseas consumers, the biggest concern is whether US market changes will affect the global market. The answer is: Ranger is basically unaffected. Ranger is a true global model, with independent production lines set up in Thailand, South Africa, Argentina, etc., supplying Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and South American markets. The US Michigan plant only supplies North America; its production line adjustments have no direct relation to overseas Ranger.

However, the situation for the Bronco pickup is different. The Bronco brand has accelerated its global expansion in recent years, and Bronco SUVs have already entered markets like Europe and Australia. If the Bronco pickup succeeds in the US, Ford is very likely to push it overseas, forming a "two-car strategy" with Ranger - Ranger focuses on utility attributes and value for money, while the Bronco pickup focuses on off-road lifestyle and brand premium. The two cover different groups, rather than simple substitution.

Final Thoughts: The changes surrounding the Ranger and Bronco pickups are currently still in the rumor and prediction phase. What is certain is: the Bronco pickup is on the way, and the Michigan plant will turn into an exclusive Bronco base; what is not yet determined is whether Ranger will be completely discontinued in the US or continue at another plant. For overseas markets, Ranger's production line independence means it will not be impacted in the short term; but in the long term, the globalization of the Bronco pickup may change the global midsize pickup competitive landscape, complementing rather than substituting Ranger. In 2029, everything will be revealed.