The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) is strengthening its commitment to the industrialisation and development of Africa’s automotive sector with the establishment of a new regional office in Tunisia.
The AAAM North Africa office will focus on advancing the automotive industry across North Africa, with a particular emphasis on component manufacturing and regional trade integration.
The newly established office, based within the premises of the Tunisian Automotive Association (TAA) – and supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GAZ) – will be led by Akrem Sàadaoui, who has been appointed to head up AAAM’s North Africa operations.
“We congratulate Akrem on his appointment and wish him every success as he identifies and leads projects that stimulate new vehicle demand across North Africa and beyond. This includes supporting the development of auto policy programmes and creating linkages on the continent,” says Victoria Backhaus-Jerling, CEO of AAAM.
“North Africa, particularly Tunisia and Morocco, already has a strong foundation in component manufacturing. A dedicated resource in the region will enable us to grow local manufacturing and promote intra-African trade, ultimately contributing to competitive automotive value chains that supply both vehicle assemblers and the aftermarket,” she adds.
Akrem’s appointment is regarded as pivotal to unlocking complementary manufacturing and trade opportunities across the region. This will be achieved by aligning North Africa’s strengths with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He will also work closely with the AAAM Policy team to facilitate structural enablers for these opportunities and support partnerships between existing OEM component manufacturers and new market entrants.
AAAM continues to foster collaboration across the continent through auto industry study tours, encouraging knowledge exchange and new business ventures. Backhaus-Jerling emphasised that scaling up R&D capabilities in North Africa – and extending this to other AfCFTA-aligned countries – remained key to driving regional growth.
“Cooperation and coordination with associations, business chambers, political institutions and regulatory authorities, along with strong engagement with members and donors, will be central to Akrem’s role,” she says.
Prior to joining AAAM, Akrem served as Global HR Development and Business Performance Director at SEGULA Technologies, where he led high-impact international projects and supported operations for leading global brands, including Jaguar Land Rover, TotalEnergies, SEAT, Volkswagen and Indra. He has also been with DRÄXLMAIER Group where he contributed to operations across five plants and the Tunisia Hub.
He holds a master’s degree in Automation, Robotics and Data Processing (Science of Engineering) from the École Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Carthage (ENICarthage).
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George Carlin
The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has announced the long-awaited semi-finalists for the 40th edition of the prestigious 2026 Car of the Year (COTY) competition, held annually since 1986.
As the holiday season approaches and many families prepare for long journeys, OMODA and JAECOO South Africa are offering a complimentary 15-minute Holiday Vehicle Health Check to help ensure every trip is a safe one.
As South Africa navigates a shifting and often unpredictable economic landscape, the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) says there are growing signs of improvement that could support increased confidence across the new-vehicle market, even as several structural challenges remain.
