MBABANE – Toyota has claimed top honours as the world’s leading bakkie manufacturer over the past year, with its Hilux model outselling Ford’s F-150 to take the global number one spot.
Data from a six-month study conducted by auto industry analyst Felipe Munoz shows that the Toyota Hilux recorded 618,200 units sold, edging out the Ford F-150, which came in at 594,100 units. The Hilux, which is widely sold across Africa, Asia, Australia, and parts of Europe, benefited from a broader market reach than the North America-centred F-150.
The figures also place Toyota as the only brand with three entries in the global top 10 bakkie sales list for 2024. The American-market Tacoma, a sibling of the Hilux, sold 215,600 units to place eighth, while the larger Tundra ranked ninth with 179,400 units sold.
Ford matched Toyota’s top 10 tally. The Ranger, a familiar name on Eswatini roads, secured fourth place with 386,900 units sold worldwide. Ford’s heavy-duty F-250 rounded off the top 10 with 167,300 units.
General Motors also maintained a strong showing with two models in the top tier. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ranked third with 418,300 units, while the premium GMC Sierra 1500 secured sixth spot at 267,500. Stellantis’ Ram 1500 placed fifth with 282,300 units sold, while Japan’s Isuzu D-Max came in seventh with 262,200.
In a regional breakdown of the largest non-US bakkie markets, South Africa featured in the top 10 across six global models — Hilux, D-Max, Ranger, Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok and Peugeot Landtrek. Most of these are assembled locally, with production of the Landtrek expected to begin next year.
South Africa’s domestic figures continue to reflect this global trend, with the Hilux, Ranger and D-Max retaining their long-held positions as the three best-selling vehicles in the country during the first half of 2025. The Hilux leads the chart, followed by the Ranger in second and the D-Max in fifth.
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