Kia South Africa announced the introduction of its Sales Cadet Programme, which currently has 16 participants enrolled – comprising 10 females and six males.
This initiative has been launched in the Gauteng region specifically as a pilot programme and aligns with Kia’s commitment to enhancing gender diversity within the automotive industry, with a focused strategy to increase the number of female employees at key levels within the business, the manufacturer says.
As part of this initiative, Kia South Africa plans to expand the programme by adding four more participants by mid-April, bringing the total to 20, with a goal of adding two more females and two more males to the roster.
The purpose of this programme is to equip participants with both theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and experience required to become fully-fledged Sales Executives by the end of June 2025. The training programme is divided into two key phases:
Foundational Phase: Participants begin with a two-week induction at Kia’s Head Office, where they receive theoretical training on a wide range of topics related to the automotive industry.
During this phase, they will be introduced to the global Kia brand and gain a deeper understanding of its values and operations, as well as how Kia South Africa fits into the broader global strategy and contributes to the brand's success in the local market.
In-Dealer Phase: Following the induction, participants will be placed at dealerships near their homes for practical, hands-on experience. They will be actively engaged throughout the three-month programme, working closely with mentors, such as Dealer Principals, who will guide and lead them through the day-to-day operations.
Participants will be required to each submit a Portfolio of Evidence for evaluation by their workplace coaches/mentors, ensuring their progress and development are closely monitored. Upon the successful completion and evaluation of their Portfolios of Evidence, the aim is to absorb participants into Kia dealerships as Sales Executives.
“We are excited about this programme and its alignment with our commitment to not only enhance the training of our Sales personnel but also to strongly support our goal of increasing female representation within Kia South Africa,” says Paul Turnbull, CEO of Kia South Africa.
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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
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.
