Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
The Automechanika Johannesburg team has wrapped up a successful roadshow across six key African countries, aimed at engaging automotive aftermarket buyers and promoting the upcoming Automechanika Johannesburg trade show slated for the 19th to 21st November 2024 at NASREC Johannesburg.
The roadshow, strategically planned based on exhibitor feedback, covered the most requested destinations for automotive trade engagement: Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; Nairobi, Kenya; Kigali, Rwanda; Lusaka, Zambia; and Harare, Zimbabwe. This initiative was driven by exhibitor demand to strengthen connections across the continent.
In Lagos, Nigeria, the team was warmly received at the ASPAMDA Auto Parts Market, guided by Onyezor Jasper Any, Chairperson of the Foreign Trade Committee. The highlight was a joint presentation with Automechanika Dubai, showcasing the mutual benefits of both events to Nigerian aftermarket buyers.
Moving to Accra, Ghana, the team engaged with key stakeholders from the Ministry of Trade and the Ghana Investment Promotion Agency, reinforcing the importance of industry collaboration and investment in the automotive sector.
Nairobi, Kenya, welcomed representatives from major automotive aftermarket companies eager to explore opportunities at Automechanika Johannesburg. The visit to Kigali, Rwanda, supported by Rwanda Investment Promotion, included a notable meeting with Volkswagen CEO Serge Kamuhinda, highlighting Rwanda's growing automotive potential.
The roadshow continued to Lusaka, Zambia, where local professionals showed keen interest, many of whom were attending their first Automechanika event. In Harare, Zimbabwe, the session attracted a large group of automotive professionals, with insights from Brighton Ganda of EY on industry trends and productive discussions with Zimtrade officials.
"We are thrilled with the outcome of our roadshow across Africa," says Michael Dehn, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa, the organisers of Automechanika Johannesburg. "The enthusiastic response from industry leaders and professionals underscores the growing importance of regional collaboration in the automotive aftermarket. We were warmly received wherever we went across the continent."
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
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