With youth unemployment remaining one of South Africa’s biggest challenges, the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) has launched Motoring Mavericks, a movement designed to show young people that car dealerships offer far more than sales or mechanical jobs.
Instead, modern dealerships are fast-moving business environments where young professionals can build careers in marketing, finance, digital systems, customer experience, business management and technical specialisations.
Many young South Africans do not realise that today’s dealerships operate as full-scale businesses powered by technology, data, innovation and strong customer service. They need digitally savvy marketers, finance professionals, HR specialists, business managers and skilled technicians to keep operations running smoothly.
“As South Africa continues to battle high youth unemployment, we want to open young people’s eyes to the real career opportunities inside the automotive retail space,” says NADA Director Ashley Samuel.
“Dealerships are fast-paced, technology-driven environments where ambitious young professionals can grow quickly, develop valuable skills and build strong earning potential. Many senior leaders in the industry started in entry-level roles and worked their way up.”
Through real-life stories of young professionals already succeeding in the industry, Motoring Mavericks profiles careers including Finance & Insurance (F&I) Specialists, Dealer Principals, Sales Executives, Marketing Professionals and Service Technicians. The campaign offers practical insight into how young people can enter the industry and grow their careers.
One of the key elements of the Motoring Mavericks campaign is sharing the experiences of young professionals already working in the dealership environment. Through short videos and interviews, young sales executives, marketing specialists, service technicians and finance professionals explain how they entered the industry and how their careers have developed since joining the sector.
South Africa’s dealership network plays a major role in the automotive sector, facilitating the majority of the 596 818 new vehicles sold in the country in 2025, according to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.
As new vehicle brands enter the local market and technology continues to reshape the automotive landscape, opportunities for skilled, motivated young professionals are expanding.
Motoring Mavericks will be shared across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn, giving young South Africans easy access to career advice, industry insights and stories from people already building successful careers in the automotive retail sector.
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) is set to make history with a series of Guinness World Records attempts, bringing Hilux owners together from across the country in a bold, large-scale celebration of the all-new 9th generation Toyota Hilux.
To be named the overall Hyundai Dealer of the Year is not something that simply happens. It is the result of hard work, dedication, looking after your staff and customers, and maintaining a clear focus on your goal. That goal is to be the best.
Chery is intensifying its European expansion by exploring partnerships that would allow the company to utilise existing automotive factories rather than constructing new ones.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
To be named the overall Hyundai Dealer of the Year is not something that simply happens. It is the result of hard work, dedication, looking after your staff and customers, and maintaining a clear focus on your goal. That goal is to be the best.
GWM South Africa hosted its annual Dealer Conference and Dealer of the Year Awards, bringing together its national dealer network of over 100 dealerships to review performance, align on strategic priorities, and recognise outstanding achievement across the business.
LDV South Africa recently hosted its dealer conference, with representation from dealerships across the country. Among those present was Joy Zhu, Africa Regional Director for SAIC Motor International, reinforcing the brand’s global backing and commitment to growth in South Africa.
