Victoria Backhaus-Jerling (photo) has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM).
She succeeds Dave Coffey, who has served as CEO since February 2020 and is retiring after five years. Victoria will be the first woman to lead the AAAM as CEO.
Martina Biene, President of AAAM as well as Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa, expressed her congratulations: “On behalf of the AAAM Management Board, I congratulate Victoria on her appointment. She has demonstrated remarkable expertise and commitment to the development of the African automotive industry, and our board is confident she will lead AAAM to even greater achievements. We are also proud to welcome the first woman to fill this pivotal role.”
“We also extend our gratitude to Dave for his tireless dedication in transforming AAAM into a highly respected organisation. Under his leadership, AAAM has grown from 17 members in 2020 to 80 members today and has become a key player in advancing automotive industrialisation in Africa,” Martina adds.
Before her appointment, Victoria served as Head of the Project Office in South Africa for the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) since October 2020.
Victoria says she is honoured to be appointed into this role, and she looks forward to building on the strong foundation established by Dave and the AAAM team. “My focus will be on driving collaboration, inclusivity and innovation across the continent, ensuring that AAAM continues to serve its members and stakeholders effectively. We have declared 2025 the year of collaboration and inclusivity, and I am excited to work with partners to further industrialise and grow Africa’s automotive industry.”
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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
A dispute over the payload ratings of Jetour’s T1 and T2 SUVs has developed further following weighbridge testing in Gauteng, with the Automobile Association (AA) questioning some of the results and Jetour South Africa maintaining that its revised figures have been independently verified.
Chinese vehicle manufacturers continued to record significantly stronger growth than established OEM brands in South Africa during the second quarter of 2026, according to TransUnion's Q2 2026 Mobility Report.
South African consumers face growing pressure on household finances after the South African Reserve Bank raises interest rates, adding to a range of rising costs that are already influencing vehicle purchasing decisions.
