Accelerator Award winners announced at Auto Week

Mikel Mabasa, naamsa CEO, described the awards as a pivotal moment for the sector: “The naamsa Accelerator Awards reflect the heartbeat of the automotive industry, celebrating excellence and innovation that drive us forward. As we celebrated our centenary this year, naamsa honoured people, their achievements that set the standard for the future, and for the significant contributions made to the growth and sustainability of the automotive industry in South Africa,” he says.

NEW VEHICLE SALES CATEGORY:

• Passenger Car of the Year – VW Polo Vivo;
• Biggest Achiever of the Year | Passenger Segment - Citroen C3;
• Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year - Toyota Hilux;
• Biggest Achiever of the Year | LCV Segment - Ford Tourneo Custom;
• Medium Commercial Vehicle of the Year - Isuzu N-Series;
• Heavy Commercial Vehicle of the Year - Isuzu F-Series;
• Extra-Heavy Commercial Vehicle of the Year - Mercedes-Benz Actros;
• Bus of the Year - MAN Bus;
• Other Commercial Vehicle Achiever of the Year - MAN TGM;
• New Energy Vehicle of the Year | Battery Electric Models - Volvo EX30;
• New Energy Vehicle of the Year | Plug-in Hybrid Models - BMW X1;
• New Energy Vehicle of the Year | Traditional Hybrid Models - Toyota Corolla Cross;

MANUFACTURING CATEGORY:

• Top Locally Manufactured Vehicle of the Year - VW Polo;
• Top Exported Vehicle of the Year - VW Polo.

DEALERSHIP CATEGORY:

• Dealer of the Year | Passenger - Suzuki Bassonia JHB;
• Dealer Achiever of the Year | Passenger - Haval Northcliff

IMPORTERS CATEGORY:

Top Imported Vehicle of the Year - Suzuki Swift.

TRANSFORMATION AWARDS:

• Job Creators | OEMs Employment - Toyota South Africa Motors
• Job Creators | MHCV Employment - UD Trucks Southern Africa
• Job Creators | Importers Employment - Hyundai South Africa
• Youth Empowering | OEMs Manufacturing - BMW SA (Pty) Ltd
• Women Empowering | OEMs Manufacturing - BMW SA (Pty) Ltd
• Youth Empowering | MHCV Manufacturing - MAN Automotive SA (Pty) Ltd and UD Trucks Southern Africa
• Women Empowering | MHCV Manufacturing - UD Trucks Southern Africa
• Youth Empowering | Importers Manufacturing - Hyundai South Africa
• Women Empowering | Importers Manufacturing - Hyundai South Africa

WesBank TRANSFORMATION PERFORMANCE AWARDS:

• Maintaining BBBEEE Level 1 | OEMs - Isuzu Motors South Africa
• Achieving BBBEEE Level 1 | MHCV - Daimler Truck Southern Africa
• Most Improved BBBEEE Scorecard | OEMs - Nissan South Africa
• Most Improved BBBEEE Scorecard | MHCV - Daimler Truck Southern Africa
• Most Improved BBBEEE Scorecard | Importer - Hyundai/Mitsubishi/Renault/KIA

The Top Media House of the Year Award was presented to AutoLive. The ceremony also honoured individuals who have significantly contributed to the industry’s narrative. Denis Droppa received the Top Auto Journalist of the Year award, while Brenwin Naidu was named Top Business Journalist of the Year. Kumbirai Mtshakazi was recognised as the Top Emerging Auto Journalist of the Year.

The Ceremony bestowed distinct recognition to policymakers and industry stalwarts. The 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award went to former Minister Alec Erwin and a special recognition award to MEC MVOKO. Industry stalwarts, Norman Lamprecht and Stuart Rayner, were recognised as Industry value creators.