Cars.co.za report offers interesting insights
Cars.co.za recently launched Industry Report 2026 at its DealerCon summit, offers insight into the forces shaping South Africa’s vehicle market.
- Dealer News
- 22 September 2026
Subaru Southern Africa has appointed Toshimitsu Tanaka as its new Managing Director. He succeeds Andrew Marshall, who retires after five years of service.
Toshimitsu, a seasoned executive from Japan, brings with him over 30 years’ experience in the global automotive sector. His international career spans key leadership roles across Africa, North America and Asia, including his most recent position as Deputy Managing Director of Subaru Southern Africa, a role he has held for the past two years.
Before joining Subaru, he held senior positions within the Toyota Tsusho Group, including Assistant General Manager for Toyota Tsusho Africa, Group Manager at Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Vice Division Head at Toyota Tsusho America. He also played a pivotal role in establishing Toyota Tsusho Africa’s facilities in Durban as project leader – a career milestone that speaks to his commitment to innovation, growth and teamwork.
“It’s a great honour to take the helm at Subaru Southern Africa. This is a brand that represents confidence, adventure and loyalty – not only in the products we build but in the people we serve. My focus will be on expanding our presence and enhancing the customer experience across the region. I look forward to working closely with our dealer network, our partners and, most importantly, our customers to take Subaru to even greater heights,” Toshimitsu says.
Cars.co.za recently launched Industry Report 2026 at its DealerCon summit, offers insight into the forces shaping South Africa’s vehicle market.
Nissan has introduced the Tekton, a new compact SUV for the South African market. The model is built on the Renault‑Nissan alliance’s CMF‑B platform and is closely related to the Renault Duster, sharing engines and mechanical components.
At the recent DealerCon 2026, hosted by Cars.co.za automotive excellence was celebrated by honouring top executives in the automotive retails industry.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
Car recalls often raise concern among owners, but the National Automobile Dealers' Association (NADA) says recall campaigns show that manufacturers are accountable and committed to quality, safety and customer care.
Affordability is driving a structural shift in South Africa’s vehicle market, with SUVs gaining significant ground as consumers increasingly seek competitively priced, well-equipped vehicles.
South Africa’s used car market continued to grow during the first half of 2026, despite pressure on household budgets and a 25 basis point interest rate increase in May.