As an export-oriented industry, the South African automotive industry’s export performance continues to highlight both market concentration as well as the expanding global reach. The long-standing free trade agreements with the EU and the UK ensured record exports to the region to the value of R182,8 billion, or 62,8%, of the total automotive export value of R291,0 billion in 2025. Light vehicles remained the dominant export category, with 80,3%, or four out of every five vehicles exported in 2025 destined for the region. Africa comprised the domestic automotive industry’s second-largest export region, accounting for R49,5 billion, or 17,0% of the total automotive exports of R291,0 billion with 85,1% of the export value destined for SADC, which is a free trade area. With the outstanding rules of origin for automotives now being adopted since February 2026 under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it would open up further market access opportunities for the domestic automotive industry to the rest of Africa.