Fewer Batswana are buying cars, is this a sign of the times?

Fewer Batswana are buying cars this year, with industry estimates indicating that 2026 local car sales will drop more than 12 percent below the country’s pre-pandemic norm.

With car sales believed to be a window into the country’s economic health, the steep slide may be a worrying sign of the times. According to global research firm Business Monitor International (BMI),vehicle sales in Botswana are forecast to slip in 2026, reversing earlier expectations of a rebound and underscoring the squeeze facing consumers as inflation rises, and the Pula weakens.