Top Car Brands in Africa

Looking for the top car brands in Africa? This is a list of the top car brands.

Africa is among the most sought-after markets by car manufacturers worldwide.

Vehicle demand is attributed to fast urbanization in parts of the continent. Thus, the top car brands are vying for the African market.

Read: Top 20 Car Brands in Canada

Top 20 Car Brands in Africa

Below are Africa’s top 20 car brands.

Toyota

• Head Office: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1961
• Notable car Models:
  • Pickup Trucks: Hilux, Land Cruiser 79
  • SUVs: Land Cruiser 200/300, Prado, Fortuner
  • Sedans and Compacts: Corolla, Yaris, Camry, Etios
  • Commercial Vehicles: Hiace, Quantum, Dyna, Coaster
• Key African markets: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco.
• Production Plants:
  • South Africa: Toyota has a significant production facility in Durban, South Africa, which assembles various models like the Hilux and Fortuner. This plant serves the domestic market and exports to other African countries.
  • Kenya and Egypt: Toyota has partnerships with local assembly plants in Kenya & Egypt to better serve East and North African markets.

This giant is the largest top car brand operating in Africa. It offers vehicles across various segments, including sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, hybrids, and commercial vehicles. The brand’s strong presence spans multiple countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt, making it accessible to a diverse customer base. South Africa is a critical export hub for Toyota, supplying vehicles to other African countries.

Ford

• Head Office: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1904
• Notable car Models:
  • Passenger Vehicles: EcoSport, Ford Fiesta & Focus
  • SUVs: Kuga & Everest
  • Pickup Trucks: Raptor & Ranger
  • Commercial Vehicles: Transit & Ranger Raptor
• Key African markets: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria.
• Production Plants:
  • South Africa: The Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria is a key manufacturing hub, producing vehicles such as the Ford Ranger and Ford Everest for local sales and export markets.
  • Nigeria: Ford has established an assembly plant in Lagos to meet local demand.

Ford is undoubtedly one of the top car brands in Africa. Established in 1924, Ford Africa resides in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it operates the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, which produces models like the Ford Ranger and EcoSport. Ford Africa includes various product lineups, such as compact cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and commercial vehicles.

Volkswagen

• Head Office: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1946
• Notable car models
  • Passenger Vehicles: Polo, Golf, T-Cross & Tiguan
  • Sedans: Jetta & Passat
  • Utility Vehicles: Amarok
  • Commercial Vehicles: Transporter & Caddy
  • Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: ID. Series
• Key African markets: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria.
• Production Plants:
  • South Africa: Volkswagen’s main manufacturing facility is in Uitenhage, near Port Elizabeth. The plant produces models such as the Polo, Golf, Tiguan, and Amarok.
  • Nigeria: Volkswagen, in 2014, set up an assembly plant for the local market.
  • Kenya: Volkswagen began assembly operations in Kenya in 2016, focusing on models like the Polo and Polo and commercial vehicles to serve the East African region.

Volkswagen is a prominent car brand in Africa. Established in 1946 with its first assembly plant in Uitenhage, South Africa, Volkswagen has expanded to several essential markets across the continent, including Nigeria, Kenya, Algeria, and Morocco. The company’s diverse lineup includes popular models such as the Polo, Golf, and Tiguan, along with utility and commercial vehicles designed for both urban and rural environments.

Nissan

• Head Office: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1962
• Notable Car Models
  • Sedans: Almera
  • SUVs: Qashqai & X-Trail
  • Crossover: Juke
  • Pick-up Trucks: NP300 Hardbody & Navara
  • Commercial Vehicles: NV350
  • Electric Vehicles: Nissan Leaf
• Key African markets: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Algeria.
• Production Plants:
  • South Africa: Nissan’s primary manufacturing facility is in Rosslyn, Pretoria. The plant produces a range of vehicles, including the Nissan NP300 Hardbody, Navara, and the Qashqai.
  • Nigeria: Launched in 2014, the plant assembles various models for the Nigerian market, including the Nissan Almera and NP300 Hardbody.

Nissan Africa is a division of Nissan Motor Corporation, focused on expanding the brand’s presence and operations across the African continent. Established in 1962 with the opening of its first assembly plant in South Africa, Nissan has since grown to become one of the leading car brands in Africa. Nissan also offers various vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, and electric and commercial vehicles. 

Honda

• Head Office: Randburg, South Africa.
• Founding Date: 1993
• Notable car models
  • Passenger Cars: Civic, Accord, HR-V, Jazz, Amaze, CR-V & WR-V
  • Motorcycles: CB Series, CRF Series, CBR Series, Africa Twin, Gold Wing, and XR Series
• Key African markets: South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Egypt.
• Production Plants:
  • South Africa: Honda operates an assembly plant in Pretoria that assembles vehicles for the domestic and regional markets.
  • Kenya: Honda has established a strong presence in Kenya, where it assembles motorcycles and provides various automotive products.

Honda is a renowned Japanese car manufacturer known for its cars, motorcycles, and power equipment. It has established a significant African presence primarily by selling motorcycles, automobiles, and other products.

Hyundai

• Head Office: Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Founding Date: 2000
• Notable car models
  • Sedans: Accent, Elantra, & Sonata
  • SUVs: Creta, Tucson, & Santa Fe
  • Commercial Vehicles: H-100 & H-1 Vans and HD Series Trucks
  • Hybrid & Electric Vehicles: Kona Electric and Ioniq Hybrid
• Key African markets: Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Egypt.
• Production Plants: Hyundai does not operate dedicated manufacturing plants in Africa. However, it relies on assembly agreements in select countries to support its operations on the continent.
  • Egypt: Hyundai assembles some models in Egypt through local partnerships, allowing it to serve North African markets.
  • South Africa: While Hyundai does not operate its own manufacturing facility in South Africa, it imports vehicles to meet the demand of the southern African region.
  • In 2019, Hyundai opened a vehicle assembly plant near Addis Ababa to allow Hyundai to serve the wider East African region more effectively.

Hyundai Africa is a critical player in the continent’s automotive industry. This top car brand provides vehicles catering to various market needs, from affordable sedans to compact cars, SUVs, and light commercial vehicles.  Established in the early 2000s, Hyundai has expanded its presence in key African countries, including Ethiopia, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. In South Africa, Hyundai is the central hub of the southern African market. At the same time, the assembly plant in Ethiopia supports the growing demand in East Africa.

Kia

• Head Office: Pretoria, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1994
• Notable car Models:
  • Sedans & Hatchbacks: K5, Rio & Forte
  • SUVs: Sportage, Mohave, Carnival, Telluride, Seltos, and Sorento
  • Electric Vehicles: EV6
• Key African markets: Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Egypt.
• Production Plants
  • South Africa Assembly Plant, Pretoria: KIA manufactures its models to serve the local market and exports to other African countries. The facility assembles popular models such as the KIA Rio, Seltos, and Sportage.

Established in 1994, Kia Africa is a significant car brand in the African automotive market. It offers a diverse lineup of vehicles, including compact sedans, SUVs, and electric cars. The company maintains a strong network of dealerships and service centres across Africa, ensuring proper after-sales services.

Mercedes Benz

• Head Office: Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1994
• Notable car Models:
  • Sedans: A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class
  • Coupes and Convertibles: C-Class Coupe, E-Class Coupe, and S-Class Coupe
  • SUVs: GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE, G-Class, and GLS models
  • Electric Vehicles: EQS, EQB, EQC, and EQS
  • Vans: Sprinter, Vito, & Actros
  • Sport Models: AMG A 35, AMG C 63, AMG GT
• Key African markets: Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Egypt.
• Production Plants:
  • East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa: The facility produces Mer Mercedes-Benz models such as the C-Class, E-Class, GLC, GLE, Sprinter, and Actros for local and export markets.

Mercedes-Benz Africa is a division of the global automotive brand Mercedes-Benz, known for its luxury vehicles, buses, and trucks. As a top car brand in Canada, Mercedes-Benz offers a comprehensive lineup of vehicles, including sedans, coupes, electric and hybrid, SUVs, roadsters, and high-performance AMG models.

BMW

• Head Office: Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1973
• Notable Car Models:
  • Sedans: 3 Series, 5 Series, & 7 Series
  • SUVs: X1, X3, & X5
  • High-Performance: M3, M5, X5 M & X6 M
  • Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: i3, iX3, and iX
  • Hybrid Models: 3 Series and X5
• Key African markets: Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.
• Production Plants:
  • Rosslyn Plant, Pretoria, South Africa: The facility primarily manufactures the BMW X3, 1 Series, 3 Series, and 5 Series, sold locally and exported to other African countries.

Established in 1973, BMW Africa has become a key player in the African automotive market. Also, it offers a wide range of products, including luxury sedans, SUVs, sports cars, and electric & hybrid vehicles. BMW Africa operates through BMW Group South Africa, which oversees manufacturing, distribution, and sales across the continent.

Renault

• Head Office: Casablanca, Morocco
• Founding Date: 1959
• Notable Car Models:
  • Passenger Cars: Kwid, Logan, & Sandero
  • SUVs: Dacia Duster & Koleos
  • Commercial Vehicles: Kangoo, Trafic, & Master
• Key African markets: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Kenya, & Ghana.
• Production Plants
  • Tangier Plant, Morocco: Opened in 2012, this manufacturing facility produces Renault models such as the Duster, Sandero, and Logan for exports to European countries.
  • Casablanca Plant, Morocco: Established in 1959, this plant assembles Renault models like the Logan, Koleos, and Sandero for the domestic market.
  • Oran Plant, Algeria: Established in 2013, this facility produces the Renault Symbol model.
  • Coscharis Group Plant: Since 2019, Renault has partnered with the Coscharis Group to assemble models like the Logan and Duster for the Nigerian market.
  • Tunis Plant (Tunisia): Established in 2002, it produces Renault Clio models.

Renault is one of Africa’s best-selling car brands, especially in its home market in France. It produces passenger cars, electric vehicles, and commercial cars. Renault has established itself as a leading automotive brand in Africa, particularly across North Africa and select Sub-Saharan regions.

Mazda

• Head Office: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1988
• Notable car Models:
  • Passenger Cars: Mazda2 & Mazda3
  • SUVs: Mazda CX-3, CX-30, CX-5
  • Commercial Vehicles: BT-50
• Key African markets: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt.
• Production Plants:
  • Ford Silverton Assembly Plant, South Africa: Mazda’s production facility in South Africa produces models like the BT-50 pickup truck, Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-5, Mazda2, and MX-5​.

Established in 1988, this car brand in Africa operates primarily in South Africa, where it has launched Mazda Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd to manage sales, marketing, and distribution. The car brand offers a range of vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, sports cars, and others.

Peugeot

• Head Office: Casablanca, Morocco
• Founding Date: 1950s & 1960s
• Notable car Models:
  • Passenger Vehicles: 208, 301, 2008, 3008, 5008, 508, 508 SW, and e-208:
  • Commercial Vehicles: Partner, Expert, & Boxer
• Key African markets: South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.
• Production Plants:
  • East London, South Africa: The plant produces a variety of Peugeot models for domestic and export markets.
  • Kenitra Plant, Morocco: Peugeot’s largest production facility in Africa that produces the 208 & 301 for local sales and exports.

Peugeot is a French car manufacturer active in Africa for decades. The car brand is known for its range of vehicles, including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and electric models. Peugeot Africa operates under the Stellantis group, created from the merger of PSA Group (which includes Peugeot) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The regional headquarters for Peugeot in Africa is located in Casablanca, Morocco. This head office oversees Peugeot’s operations across the African continent. The Kenitra plant in Morocco also serves as a significant manufacturing facility for Peugeot vehicles targeted at local and export markets.

Isuzu 

• Head Office: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
• Founding Date: 1970s
• Notable car Models:
  • Pickups: D-Max
  • Commercial Trucks: N-Series, F-Series, Giga-Series
  • Buses: Isuzu Buses:
• Key African markets: Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, and Ghana.
• Production Plants:
  • Port Elizabeth, South Africa: This plant is Isuzu’s central production hub in Africa. It primarily assembles Isuzu D-Max pickups and commercial trucks for the South African market and other African regions.
  • Nairobi, Kenya: Isuzu East Africa operates a local assembly plant in Nairobi, a central facility in East Africa. The plant assembles various Isuzu trucks, buses, and pickups for Kenyan and neighbouring East African markets.

Isuzu Africa is the African subsidiary of Japan’s Isuzu Motors, a renowned car manufacturer specializing in commercial vehicles, trucks, and pickups. It has a significant presence across the African continent, with its critical operations anchored by production facilities in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and Nairobi, Kenya, which assemble the Isuzu D-Max pickups and N-Series trucks.

Land Rover

• Head Office: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Notable car Models include the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Evoque, and Discovery and Discovery Sport.
• Key African markets include South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Angola, Gabon, and Tanzania.
• Production Plants:
  • The Gauteng plant is located in Rosslyn, near Pretoria, South Africa. The site produces models like Range Rover and Discovery​ for the local South African market and the continent.

Land Rover is a top car brand in Africa. The company is a British luxury SUV manufacturer known for its premium vehicles like the Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender. The car brand is part of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), a subsidiary of Tata Motors. It has established a significant presence across the African continent. In addition, The company has a substantial manufacturing facility in South Africa, specifically in Gauteng, which plays a crucial role in the local assembly and distribution of vehicles across the continent.

Chery

• Head Office: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Founding Date: 2007
• Notable car Models:
  • SUVs: Tiggo 2, Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro, & Tiggo 8 Pro
  • Sedans: Arrizo 5 & Arrizo 6 Pro
• Key African markets: South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya,
• Production Plants:
  • East London, South Africa: The plant assembles vehicles for the African market.

Chery Africa, a division of China’s Chery Automobile Co, is a top car brand in Africa. The company operates across multiple African countries to cater to the growing demand for affordable, reliable, and efficient vehicles.

Notable Mentions

• Mitsubishi
• Tata Motors
• Great Wall Motors (GWM)