Toyota lifts South Africa RAV4 prices as Chinese rivals pressure market

Toyota Motor Corporation said it can no longer compete on price with low‑cost Chinese car brands and is moving its RAV4 model upmarket in South Africa. The new RAV4 generation is priced between 770,500 rand (about $47,100) and 1,043,900 rand (about $63,800), roughly $3,500 higher than the previous version.

Toyota’s South Africa communications manager Riaan Esterhuysen explained the shift is intended to protect profit margins and reposition the brand after Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Geely and Chery have captured more than 19% of the new‑car market, forcing a rethink of low‑price competition.