Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) is a South African automobile manufacturer. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese automotive company Toyota, TSAM is based in Prospecton, in KwaZulu-Natal, where its manufacturing facilities are also located.
As of 2026, TSAM manufactures the Hilux, Fortuner, and Corolla Cross passenger vehicles, as well as the Hiace commercial van, for domestic and export markets.
History In 1959, the first Toyota model, a Land Cruiser, was exported to South Africa, followed two years later by ten units of the Stout.M. Compton, T. J. Gallwey: Motor Assemblies Limited. A small South African Assembly Plant that became a major Manufacturer, 2009.
Production of Toyota models at Motor Assemblies began in 1962 or 1963. At the end of 1964, the sales organisation Toyota SA, which had been founded three years earlier, took over the majority of Motor Assemblies.
In 1978, TSAM finally acquired 100% of the shares in Motor Assemblies.Overview of Overseas Production Affiliates: Africa, Übersicht der Toyota Motor Corporation.
The Japanese Toyota Motor Corporation initially acquired 27.8% of the shares in TSAM in 1996, increased this share to 75% in 2002 and finally to 100% in 2009.Kweku Ampiah: L'Afrique du Sud dans la TICAD: un rôle pivot, in Afrique contemporaine 2004/4, S. 91–112.
In 2006, Toyota SA surpassed BMW South Africa as the country's largest automobile exporter.Norman Lamprecht: The impact of the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP) on the export strategies of the South African light motor vehicle manufacturers (1995–2008), Dissertation an der Universität von Südafrika, Pretoria 2009.
In 2014, Toyota had 8,500 employees in South Africa.
In December 2025, Toyota's locally-assembled Corolla Cross ranked as the best-selling passenger vehicle in SA, and it has ranked among the top 10 best-sellers numerous times since.
In July 2026, Toyota SA celebrated the launch of local manufacturing for its 9th generation Hilux. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a virtual address. Toyota SA's CEO said the R10.4 billion invested into the new Hilux's SA manufacturing represented the company's single largest product investment in the company's history.
The investment included R3.2 billion in three new major manufacturing facilities - a Toyota Logistics Center, a Chassis Frame Coating Facility, and a Chassis Frame Welding Facility. Other parts of the overall investment went directly into Hilux production preparation, TSAM operations, and the company's South African supplier network.
Models At Motor Assemblies, Toyota platform trucks such as the Toyopet Stout were initially produced. From 1966, the Corona was also produced, which is the first passenger car produced under the Toyota brand. In November 1966, the engine production began.
The Hilux has been manufactured in South Africa since 1970, and Hino commercial vehicles have also been produced since 1974. In May 1975, the production of the Corolla began.
The following models manufactured by TSAM are also exported: the Corolla to Australia since 2003 and Europe since 2007 and the Hilux pick-up to Europe and the rest of Africa since 2005.
With the Toyota Conquest or Tazz, TSAM followed a similar approach (long construction time of an outdated model, relatively little model maintenance) to Volkswagen with the Citi Golf and Nissan South Africa with the Nissan 1400. The model was sold as the Conquest from 1986 and the Tazz from 1996 to 2006.Jeanette Clark: Toyota launches Tazz replacement, in: Moneyweb vom 21. Mai 2012. But from 1996 to 2006, 207,169 units of the TSAM Tazz have been sold and it was the market leader in its class in this period of eight out of eleven years. Successors of the smaller Tazz are the Aygo and the Etios.
The one millionth Corolla was manufactured in South Africa in 2013.New Milestone for Toyota SA Motors, Press release from Toyota SA Motors on 27 November 2013.
In 2014, the Hilux, Fortuner, all Hino models and Ses'fikile taxis were produced from kits at the Toyota plant in Prospecton near Durban.Charles Cornew: African adventures, in: Automotive Manufacturing Solutions of 4 November 2014.
In Q4 2021, Toyota started assembling the Corolla Cross in South Africa.
In Q2 2026, TSAM began manufacturing the 9th generation Hilux at improved facilities in South Africa.
Current production lineup
ModelCategoryVariantsMarketsSA manufacturing establishedRef Passenger vehiclesCorolla CrossCompact crossover1.8 Xi, 1.8 XS, 1.8 XS HEV, 1.8 XR, 1.8 GR-S, 1.8 XR HEV, 1.8 GR-S HEVDomestic; exports to Africa and other international marketsFortunerMidsize SUV2.4 GD-6, 2.8 GD-6, 2.8 GD-6 VX, 2.8 GD-6 GR-S; 4×2 and 4×4Domestic; exports to Africa and other international marketsHiluxPickup truckSingle Cab, Xtra Cab, Double CabDomestic; exports to Africa, Europe, and other international markets Commercial vehiclesHiaceMinibusSes'fikileDomestic; exports to African and other international markets
See also
Automotive industry in South Africa Manufacturing in South Africa
References