The South African automotive industry is deeply entrenched in international supply chains. Export-driven growth continues to benefit the automotive industry and spurs activity in downstream sectors.
While exports and export-led growth offer numerous advantages, they are not without challenges. Dependence on external demand, vulnerability to global market economic fluctuations and trade barriers are potential downsides.
Thus, for the South African automotive industry, a balanced economic strategy that includes domestic market development remains essential, particularly in the current context of the inevitable transition to new-energy vehicles.
The various national and international annual automotive events bring together leading manufacturers, suppliers, OE and aftermarket components, equipment, new innovations, the latest models and services under one roof, along with conferences and panel discussions.
Automotive events and exhibitions are valuable for the domestic automotive industry in many ways. In addition to unlocking business opportunities, the showcasing of products, the launching of new products and connecting with customers, they also provide an essential platform for thought leadership round tables allowing leaders from government, business and labour to deliberate, discuss and share knowledge of and insights into relevant topics.
Must-attend national and international events on the calendar of the domestic automotive community in 2025 include the following:
South Africa:
International:
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has renewed calls for stronger localisation, expanded job creation and deeper transformation in South Africa’s automotive industry after reviewing progress on the South African Automotive Industry Master Plan 2035.
As economic pressures and market volatility continue to shape the local transport industry, UD Trucks Southern Africa says it has demonstrated confident and stable growth, supported by strong retail partnerships and a relentless focus on customer uptime.
Family-run new car dealerships remain a unique phenomenon on the South African automotive landscape, with their own challenges, particularly in rural towns.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has renewed calls for stronger localisation, expanded job creation and deeper transformation in South Africa’s automotive industry after reviewing progress on the South African Automotive Industry Master Plan 2035.
As economic pressures and market volatility continue to shape the local transport industry, UD Trucks Southern Africa says it has demonstrated confident and stable growth, supported by strong retail partnerships and a relentless focus on customer uptime.
Keyloop, a global automotive technology company, has signed an agreement to acquire Motortech.ai, a United Kingdom-based (UK) developer of state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the automotive industry.
