Chinese automotive brands are making steady inroads into Namibia’s vehicle market, challenging the dominance of long-established Japanese and German manufacturers.
According to the latest figures, Chinese brands such as Haval, Omoda, Jetour and Jaecoo accounted for 118 vehicle sales in May 2025, representing 11.7% of the total market. This marks a sharp rise from just 4.8% in May 2024.
“Chinese automakers have emerged as serious contenders. This reflects growing consumer willingness to consider alternatives that combine affordable pricing, modern design, and increasingly reliable after-sales support,” said Almandro Jansen, Junior Economist at Simonis Storm.
Haval, which has been present in the Namibian market since 2021, has sold 154 units year-to-date and continues to maintain a market share of around 4%.
Newer entrants are also gaining momentum. So far this year, Omoda has sold 20 vehicles, Jetour 15, and Jaecoo 8.
“Dealerships can respond by expanding their inventory to include high-demand Chinese models such as Haval, Omoda, Jetour, and Jaecoo. Financiers may capitalise on this shift by introducing flexible credit options tailored to price-sensitive buyers entering the mid-tier segment,” Jansen added.
He noted that brands which successfully balance cost efficiency with practicality and accessible service networks will be best placed to grow their presence in the country.
Despite the rise of Chinese models, Japanese brands continue to dominate the market, recording 607 vehicle sales in May for a 60% market share. Toyota led the segment with its top sellers including the Hilux (246 units), Corolla Cross (66 units) and Fortuner (45 units). However, this represented a decline from April’s 772 Japanese units sold, when the segment held 62.1% market share.
German manufacturers showed a notable rebound, selling 124 units in May and capturing 12.3% of the market—up from just 33 units in April. Volkswagen led the segment with 85 sales, followed by Mercedes-Benz with 27.
“Premium segments are being challenged as affordability becomes more central to consumer decisions. This is reflected in the performance of German and South Korean brands,” Jansen said.
American brands recorded 78 unit sales, accounting for 7.7% of the market, while South Korean manufacturers lagged behind, registering only 5 units sold (0.5% share).
In total, 1,011 vehicles were sold in May 2025, a 4.7% increase compared to 966 units in May 2024. However, sales were down 18.7% from April 2025, when 1,243 vehicles were sold, marking the second consecutive monthly decline following a March peak of 1,320 units.
“Consumers are increasingly shifting toward practicality and cost efficiency, and Chinese brands are successfully positioning themselves in this space,” Jansen said.
