Security groups have noted that eight vehicle models are in the crosshairs of hijackers across South Africa in 2026, including one that launched just six years ago.
According to Fidelity Services Group, hijacking trends this year are expected to follow a cyclical pattern similar to that seen in 2025.
Wahl Bartmann, Group CEO of Fidelity Services Group, said recorded incidents tend to dip early in the year before climbing again as economic activity picks up.
“Recorded hijackings are expected to continue following the cyclical pattern observed in 2025, characterised by short-term declines followed by renewed increases,” Bartmann told BusinessTech.
“Following the reduction recorded in January 2026, risk levels are likely to remain subdued through February. However, a gradual escalation is anticipated from March into April 2026.”
Bartmann explained that these fluctuations are closely tied to demand-and-supply dynamics within the criminal economy.
Lower levels of economic and market activity at the start of the year generally suppress incentives for organised crime, while increased movement of goods, people, and money later in the first quarter creates more opportunities for hijacking syndicates to operate.
Data from Fidelity ADT shows that the most frequently targeted vehicles in recent incidents include:
- VW Polo (all variants)
- Hyundai Grand i10
- Nissan Almera
- Toyota Quantum
- Hyundai Venue
- Suzuki Ertiga, and
- Nissan NP200.
These models are widely available on South African roads, and there is strong demand for them in both the legitimate and illicit markets.
“These vehicles are widely available in the domestic market and are associated with strong demand for resale or stripping for parts, making them attractive targets for organised criminal groups,” Bartmann said.
High sales volumes translate directly into high demand for spare parts, feeding chop shops and illegal resale networks that operate across provincial and national borders.
New target added to the list
An interesting observation, however, is the new addition of the Hyundai Venue as an emerging hijacking target.
Launched in South Africa in late 2019, the compact SUV quickly listed among the country’s top-selling small SUVs.
Marketed primarily at young professionals and first-time SUV buyers, the Venue was introduced in Motion, Fluid, and Glide trim levels and sold more than 17,000 units within its first two years.
Its growing presence on the roads has made it attractive to criminals looking for vehicles that are easy to move and disguise.
Another new addition drawing concern is the Toyota Corolla Cross.
Security company Blue Hawk Tactical warned late last year that organised groups had been actively targeting Corolla Cross models across Gauteng for several months.
Bartmann has previously noted that criminals favour vehicles that “blend in” and can move through traffic without attracting attention.
Popular models in common colours, such as white and silver, are particularly appealing because they are difficult to single out on the roads.
Once hijacked, vehicles are typically stripped for parts or illegally re-registered and sold back into the market. Industry sales data from Naamsa shows that many of the cars on the high-risk list rank among South Africa’s best-selling models, reinforcing their value to criminal syndicates.
Bartmann added that hijacking incidents remain concentrated within major urban and peri-urban centres, particularly in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
Bartmann stressed that while the risk cannot be eliminated, motorists can reduce their exposure.
He urged motorists to stay vigilant, avoid predictable routines, exercise caution when arriving home, keep valuables out of sight, and comply if confronted.
He added that rapid-response tools such as portable panic buttons can also play a critical role when seconds matter.
While these eight cars are the most frequently targeted, no vehicle is completely safe.
The number of hijackings involving a specific model should always be considered alongside how many of those cars are on the road.
In other words, a car may appear frequently in hijacking statistics simply because there are many of them in circulation.
