Staff Writer
The country recorded 12 254 new vehicle sales between January and September, an increase of 12.4% compared with the corresponding period last year and the strongest nine-month performance since 2015, according to figures released by Bank Windhoek.
September sales reached 1 498 vehicles, representing a 14.9% increase year on year, while total sales over the 12 months to September climbed to 15 901 units, the highest level since 2016.
Growth was broad-based across the vehicle market, with commercial vehicle sales increasing by 14.8% during the first nine months of the year. Heavy commercial vehicle sales also reached a record 667 units.
The strong performance comes amid increased activity in vehicle financing.
Instalment sale and leasing credit expanded by 18.7% year on year in August, making vehicle finance one of the leading contributors to credit growth in the economy.
Bank Windhoek highlighted the growth in vehicle sales during its 2026 Vehicle and Asset Finance Selekt Sales Awards in Windhoek, where it presented 36 awards across 14 categories to dealerships, sales professionals and finance and insurance specialists.
The awards recognised dealerships and individuals for their performance in new and used vehicle sales, commercial vehicles, fleet sales and vehicle financing.
Pupkewitz Motor Division received Gold in the National Vehicle Dealer Award category.
In the franchise dealer categories, Indongo Toyota won Gold for new vehicles in Windhoek, while Pupkewitz Automark received Gold for used vehicles in Windhoek.
Redco Motors, trading as Gobabis Toyota, won the rural new-vehicle category.
Stefan Mans Auto Consultants, Spes Bona Motors and Glasgow Investments CC, trading as Investment Cars, were gold winners in the ownership dealer category for used vehicles.
Hendred Fruehauf Trailers Namibia was named Commercial Vehicle Dealer of the Year for trucks and trailers, while Simon Motors, trading as Mariental Toyota, won the Top Performing Fleet Dealer Award.
Zimmerman Garage received the Independent Franchise Dealer Award, while Pupkewitz BMW won the Excellence in Growth Award.
Among individual winners, Stephan Botes of Redco Motors (Gobabis Toyota) was named Top Salesperson of the Year for new vehicles, while Roux Jeffrey of Pupkewitz Automark won the used vehicle category.
Hilton Gallant of Investment Cars received Gold in the non-franchise used vehicle category.
Tangeni Gideon of Indongo Toyota won the Finance and Insurance Excellence Award, while Jason Engelbrecht of Metje & Ziegler was named Top Contributing Finance and Insurance professional of the Year.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Bank Windhoek executive officer for retail banking services Leon Koch said the vehicle market was expanding despite mounting pressure on household budgets.
He pointed to transport inflation of 14.9% in September, fuel prices approximately 30% higher than a year earlier, and the recent increase in the Bank of Namibia’s repo rate to 7%, which pushed the prime lending rate to 10.50%.
Koch said responsible lending was important in ensuring that customers purchased vehicles they could afford, taking into account fuel, insurance and maintenance costs.
The awards ceremony also marked the launch of the bank’s new Vehicle and Asset Finance campaign, titled ‘For Everything It Will Carry.’
The campaign is intended to strengthen the bank’s relationship with vehicle dealerships and customers while promoting accessible vehicle financing and responsible lending.
