BMW iX3 crowned World Car of the Year 2026 as EVs lead the way
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
- Industry News
- 2 April 2026
Isuzu Motors South Africa shone at this year’s Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s (SAVRALA) Manufacturer of the Year 2023 (MOTY) Awards.
The manufacturer walked away with the silverware for Overall SAVRALA Manufacturer of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. The overall manufacturer of the year award measures both the Rental and Leasing scores for qualifying manufacturers of which Isuzu was announced as the Overall Gold Winner in the Leasing category, also for the fourth consecutive year, and the Bronze Winner in the Rental Category, having won Gold for this category in the previous three years.
Isuzu also scooped the Value Award for the manufacturer scoring best in the financial section of the Leasing Category Survey for the second time in the past three years.

“Isuzu is proud of its performance over the past year, despite the challenging economic climate,” says Craig Uren, Senior Vice President: Revenue Generation, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) at Isuzu Motors South Africa. “We are honoured to accept these awards and truly appreciate the recognition of Isuzu’s efforts to provide support to our rental and leasing partners. We have had to rethink and reshape how we do business, taking into consideration our goals and understanding our customers’ needs.”
Geraldine Pillay, Business Partner Rental and Leasing (LCV & SUV) at Isuzu Motors South Africa, has for the second consecutive year received the award for Best Account Representative in the Leasing section, as voted by the panel. Pillay is highly experienced in the automotive industry, and she has been with Isuzu for 16 years.

The awards are based on the results from two surveys completed by 35 of the largest Rental and Leasing companies in South Africa. These surveys covered criteria across various areas of business, including communication and contact with manufacturers, support provided and received, how maintenance issues were dealt with, various financial aspects, and B-BBEE compliance.
A specially selected panel comprising employees who are knowledgeable about each criterion in the questionnaire allowed respondents to evaluate individual manufacturers against the various criteria. This approach ensures that an objective, industry-wide perspective is obtained. It also assists the various manufacturers as they can use the results to identify and improve service delivery to the rental and leasing industries.
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
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