Albania Passenger Car Sales : 2025 (Jan-Jun)

Registrations in Albania amounted to 4,811, but the amazing thing is that it took 67 brands to achieve that. 31 of them sold five cars or less.  

BYD is the leading brand so far this year. In 2023 it arrived in the country and reached 13th; in 2024 5th. 

Volkswagen was the top brand for the previous three years but it now resides in second place. 

Hyundai was the leader before that but is now 5th, so nothing can be taken for granted. Škoda has slipped one place to 3rd and likewise Fiat down one to 4th. 

The aforementioned proliferation of  brands has been driven by all the new Chinese entrants. Consumers can't complain about a lack of choice. 

Data source: DPSHTRR.

Photograph: BYD Europe.

Leapmotor Global Sales : 2019-2025 (H1)

Zhejiang Leapmotor started delivering its first electric car (BEV) in mid 2019. This progressed steadily with sales confined to China. However, things are starting to accelerate in China. Also in late 2023, the Stellantis car company bought a share of Leapmotor and will assist in the expansion of the brand globally. That is starting to happen now. 

To the right is a chart of deliveries initially by years, but then by both quarters and years. Virtually all of what is there reflects domestic deliveries. 

The first model was the S01, a reasonably stylish coupe. Numbers were limited and it was soon discontinued. 

The following year the T03 became the next model, a tiny electric city car. It was also manufactured in a Stellantis plant in Poland from mid 2024 but that ceased in early 2025. I would imagine the volume was limited. 

The C11 medium sized crossover was released in 2021 as either a BEV or with a range extender engine (EREV) and in 2022 the BEV C1 executive saloon car was released.

Late 2023 arrived with the C10 midsized wagonlike EREV crossover and in early 2024 a large version of the former named the C16. In early 2025 a compact BEV (B10) was introduced. 

This flurry of models is going to keep driving deliveries upward. The tie up with Stellantis will be an important part of the export drive. 

RSA Passenger Car Sales : 2024

Sales in South Africa were about the same as the previous year. One notable difference is that premium marques didn't do so well. Another point of interest is Chinese brands moving in with two of them looking settled in the top ten. 

Toyota achieved its highest market share since 2003 and has been the best passenger car brand for the last three years. Adding light commercial vehicles would paint a very different picture, with Toyota well on top. 

VW has been the leading passenger or second best car brand going back into last century. This is the lowest market share I can find for the brand. The arrival of more brands has upped the competition so maintaining one's share of the pie is a challenge. Suzuki is also on a roll.  

The fact that Toyota has thus far been able to succeed is in its model range. VW relies heavily on the Polo Vivo, an previous generation model as a value proposition. Toyota has worked with Suzuki in securing fresh metal and it's working (see above the Urban Cruiser).  

To clarify regarding the Great Wall listing below, the two brands under it are Tank and Ora. The Haval brand that is also from GWM is listed separately. 

Picture source: Toyota SA & Suzuki SA.