Answer: about 17.4 million litres of engine oil a year, or 1.45 million litres a month, based on South Africa’s 354,401 registered minibuses at March 2025 and KIPX fleet and service assumptions.
Sources: vehicle count from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) State of Road Safety Report, January to March 2025, Table 3. Fleet mix, distances and service intervals are KIPX estimates.
The calculation
| Input | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registered minibuses, March 2025 | 354,401 | RTMC |
| Average distance per vehicle | 6,100 km a month | KIPX estimate |
| Oil change interval | 10,000 km | KIPX estimate |
| Services per vehicle | 0.61 a month (one every 7 weeks) | Calculated |
| Weighted average sump | 6.72 litres | KIPX fleet mix, below |
| Oil per vehicle | 4.1 litres a month | Calculated |
| Fleet total | 1.45 million litres a month; 17.4 million a year | Calculated |
Fleet mix and sump sizes
| Model | Share of fleet | Sump, litres |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Quantum 2.5 D-4D (diesel) | 65% | 6.7 |
| Toyota Quantum 2.7 VVT-i (petrol) | 15% | 5.5 |
| Nissan NV350 2.5 (diesel) | 10% | 5.9 |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2.1 CDI | 10% | 9.5 |
Limits of the estimate
- RTMC counts all registered minibuses. Some are private, school or church vehicles rather than taxis, which would lower the total.
- Top-ups between services are excluded, which would raise it, especially on older engines.
- Gear and transmission oils are excluded.
- The registered fleet fell 0.49% between March 2024 (356,164) and March 2025 (354,401).
Frequently asked questions
How many minibus taxis are there in South Africa?
The RTMC recorded 354,401 registered minibuses in South Africa in March 2025, down from 356,164 in March 2024. The minibus taxi fleet makes up most of this category.
How much oil does a minibus taxi use?
About 4.1 litres a month, on KIPX assumptions of 6,100 km a month, a 10,000 km service interval and a 6.72 litre average sump.
What is the most common minibus taxi in South Africa?
The Toyota Quantum. KIPX estimates it makes up about 80% of the fleet across its 2.5 diesel and 2.7 petrol versions.
Need fleet or channel data? KIPX researches vehicle fleets, workshops and lubricant channels across 15 African markets. Book a consult or email hello@kipx.co.za.