In anticipation of DealerCon 2025, Brandon Cohen (photo), Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) of South Africa, emphasised the critical role of the upcoming summit in empowering automotive dealers amid significant market shifts.
Speaking from the Cars.co.za studio in Johannesburg, Brandon underscored DealerCon's unique position as an industry event focused on dealer-centric content, a departure from the current launch-dominated landscape.
He highlighted the primary challenge facing South African dealers: the financial constraints of consumers. However, he identified substantial opportunities emerging from the expansion of Chinese automotive brands into the South African market, new approaches from traditional brands and the increased availability of stock in the used car sector.
Brandon referenced the NADA Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey, which consistently shows strong performance for Chinese brands among South African consumers. This trend is further supported by recent market analysis indicating a significant increase in market share for Chinese manufacturers, growing from 2% in 2019 to 9% by July 2024.
The influx of new Chinese brands, with nearly half of those currently active in South Africa having launched in the past year, is contributing to a highly diversified automotive offering, with over 50 different vehicle brands now present in the country. This diversification, he noted, presents a unique opportunity for consumers and dealers alike.
NADA plays a crucial role in supporting dealers and serving the consumer by promoting trust and transparency within the industry. As purchasing a vehicle is one of the most significant investments a consumer can make, NADA advocates for every transaction to be handled with the utmost professionalism and care. The association acts as a vital safeguard for dealers, protecting them from opportunistic players and ensuring ethical practices.
A key initiative in this regard is NADA's formalised partnership with Absa. This collaboration aims to address and overcome challenges related to accessing finance for dealer members, ultimately streamlining the purchasing process for consumers.
Brandon encouraged dealers to attend DealerCon 2025 to gain invaluable insights, knowledge and power. He concluded by highlighting the changing nature of customer interactions, noting that today's consumers were highly informed and could exhibit confirmation bias, posing new challenges for dealers in closing sales.
Within the vehicle retail sector, there are meaningful career opportunities for young people who are interested in sales, customer engagement, administration and dealership operations.
Housed in the upmarket, safe and centrally located Ballito Business Park in Moffat Drive, the location is in the heart of the Ballito retail trading business precinct amongst many already established OEM brands.
SVI Engineering, specialist manufacturer of armoured products in South Africa, has released a series of Transformer-inspired videos via its social media channels, highlighting how the company leverages its extensive expertise in the military and security fields to deliver civilian protection.
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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
SVI Engineering, specialist manufacturer of armoured products in South Africa, has released a series of Transformer-inspired videos via its social media channels, highlighting how the company leverages its extensive expertise in the military and security fields to deliver civilian protection.
The new car buying trend has continued unabated into the new year, with January figures reflecting a 7.5% increase in total vehicle sales and passenger car volumes rising by 7.1%.
The positive momentum of new vehicle sales in 2025 seems set to continue in 2026, with January building on the previous year’s success, says the Automotive Business Council (naamsa).
