After 88 years of existence, naamsa (The Automotive Business Council), has proudly announced that Billy Tom has been elected as its first black President during the organisation’s Annual General Assembly recently held in Kariega in the Eastern Cape.
Naamsa President: Billy Tom (CEO Isuzu Southern Africa).
Vice President: Manufacturing OEMs: Peter van Binsbergen (CEO BMW Group South Africa).
Vice President: Retailing OEMs: Thato Magasa (Managing Director Mitsubishi South Africa).
Vice President: Medium & Heavy Commercial OEMs: Jan Aichnger (Managing Director: MAN Automotive).
Immediate Past President: Neale Hill (President and CEO: Ford Southern Africa).
Executive Director: Mikel Mabasa (naamsa CEO).
The election of Billy as naamsa’s first black president is significant and practical proof that the auto industry in South Africa has embraced transformation and is now embedding it within its ranks. “Billy is not the only black leader on the naamsa Board, we now have three black leaders out of the six available positions on the naamsa Board.
“All the newly elected leaders, without exception, bring a considerable wealth of expertise and experience. They will undoubtedly drive the industry’s continued growth and success, particularly at this time when the industry is undergoing unprecedented levels of technological transformation and innovative adaptation backed by new energy vehicles and cleaner and safer vehicle technologies and fuels,” says naamsa CEO, Mikel Mabasa.
“It is clear that the year 2023 stands as a crossroad between a possible future and a deferred one. The opportunity cost of finalising the new energy vehicle policy and the vehicle compulsory standard development regulations is real because both these policies are critical for giving SA a chance at being a production destination of choice.
“The automotive industry has faced severe challenges over the years, including supply chain challenges, COVID19-fuelled disruptions, semiconductor shortages, domestic climate change floods, rocketing inflation affecting the cost of production and consumers' buying power,” Mikel says.
“Our newly elected naamsa Board of Directors has a mammoth task of leading the broader automotive industry in dealing with many of the economic shocks confronting our domestic economic life, whose effects continue to be felt with time lags.
“Furthermore, we are confident that the naamsa Board will support the SA business fraternity and government in addressing policy, legislative and regulatory matters to assist in harnessing the operating environment in favour of business,” he concludes.
Mitsubishi Motors has revived the Pajero name with the launch of the fifth generation Pajero Cross Country. The new model does not simply replace the previous Pajero that disappeared from the market in 2021. Its relationship with the Pajero Sport is equally important, particularly for markets such as South Africa.
Range Rover, long regarded as the original luxury SUV, has introduced its first electric model. The vehicle is built at the Solihull plant in the UK, where Range Rover production has taken place since 1970.
Audi South Africa has introduced the new Q5 range, comprising the third-generation Q5 SUV, second-generation Q5 Sportback, and the performance-focused SQ5 SUV and SQ5 Sportback. The range is built on Audi's Premium Platform Combustion and brings a new generation of petrol and diesel engines to the nameplate.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
The Toyota Starlet has improved from zero to a four-star rating for adult occupant protection in Global NCAP's latest #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results. This follows a safety upgrade to make six airbags a standard fit.
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has released a new corporate manifesto that sets out its commitment to the country, its customers and its dealer network, alongside a renewed push to champion industrialisation as central to South Africa's future.
South Africa's new vehicle market sustained strong momentum in August 2026, with aggregate sales increasing by 11,4% year-on-year to 57 898 units, says the Automotive Business Councill | naamsa.
