Audi South Africa recently launched their fully electric e-tron brand in South Africa along with a thought-provoking launch campaign, the “Story of Progress”, aligned to local industry shapers and pioneers who are showcasing their efforts within the futuristic fields of digitalisation, design, performance and sustainability.
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To celebrate the era of electric mobility and the next step in Audi’s automotive progression, the ‘Story of Progress’ interview series explores the ideas, visions and expectations of what the future may look like and how we as South Africans can be encouraged to get there.
Audi Etron.
The Audi “Story of Progress” campaign includes a local angle and follows a continuation of global stories carried out by international personalities like Janelle Monáe (singer and songwriter), Regé-Jean Page (actor), Stella McCartney (fashion designer) to name a few. The integrated campaign, which spans across digital and above-the-line channels, is delivered through an interview-style execution that aims to drive meaningful thought and conversation.
Audi’s Story of Progress campaign focuses on four distinctive themes:
Sustainability, led by Hanli Prinsloo.
“When you have only one breath on which to dive deep, you appreciate what a finite resource is,” says Hanli Prinsloo, free diver and ocean conservationist. "We are living in a golden age of sustainability with access to knowledge that, if properly harnessed, can create a world of new possibilities. You protect what you love," – a defining lesson learnt by Hanli after a pod of more than 60 sperm whales chose her to babysit their young calf. In that moment, when she was accepted as "part of the pod", she realised how much we live on a shared planet.
Design, led by Donald Nxumalo.
“Our future relies on the small steps we take together, every day.” Donald Nxumalo is an award-winning interior designer, with a unique ability to reconfigure the stories of the past in the spaces he shapes. “The biggest change comes from pitching up every day.” Donald seeps optimism through his hope for a better tomorrow, motivated by the unknown and excited for the opportunity to be intentional when designing for the future. For Donald, beautiful design tells a story.
Digitalisation, Led by Aisha Pandor.
“The digitalisation of industries can help spread ideas and opportunities exponentially, bringing with it the power to solve some of the biggest issues that we face today,” says Aisha Pandor an entrepreneur, investor and mom, whose vision for the future is one in which equality is propelled by technology.
Performance, led by Dion Chang.
"Pushing boundaries is crucial for performance," says Dion Chang, founder of Flux Trends. Dion has spent his career questioning the norm, pushing people far past the point of being comfortable by asking those difficult questions and opening them up to possibilities. He encourages people to take the extra step to realise the power we all possess to make a difference and enact change.
The Kia Carens nameplate makes its return to South Africa, this time as a seven‑seater designed with families in mind. It combines Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) styling with Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) practicality, offering space, comfort and efficiency, Kia says.
Volvo has confirmed that its vehicles will now integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system. This development builds on the company’s existing collaboration with Google, which already provides Android Automotive OS and Google services in Volvo models.
New vehicle sales in 2026 continued their positive trend in April, with the 47 979 units sold marking the best April figure since 2013. This represents a remarkable performance by local automotive retailers despite a host of economic headwinds and a challenging trading environment.
Volvo has confirmed that its vehicles will now integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system. This development builds on the company’s existing collaboration with Google, which already provides Android Automotive OS and Google services in Volvo models.
New vehicle sales in 2026 continued their positive trend in April, with the 47 979 units sold marking the best April figure since 2013. This represents a remarkable performance by local automotive retailers despite a host of economic headwinds and a challenging trading environment.
April 2026 marked a turning point in South Africa’s economic landscape, as global energy markets were jolted by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.