Mazda Southern Africa announced that Bonite van der Merwe, current Head of Operations Sales and Service, will be appointed as the new MD of Mazda SA Pty Ltd, effective 1 October 2025.
The current Managing Director, Craig Roberts, who led the Mazda business in the Southern African market for the past eight years, will leave Mazda SA to take up a role and business opportunity in a related but non-Automotive industry.
Bonite, a qualified Chartered Accountant, has been a member of the Mazda SA Organisation Management and Senior Management teams for the past 11 years, having served in the roles of Finance Manager and Head of Finance and Corporate Affairs before the current Head of Operations role.
“Bonite, who has been on board with Mazda SA since the inception of Mazda SA as an Independent National Sales Company of Mazda Motor Corporation in 2014, is ideally positioned to assume the leadership role for Mazda in SA,” comments Roberts.
“Experience across all areas of the Mazda SA Business, as well as a strong commitment to Mazda’s Customer Centric and Human Centric values, will stand her in good stead to lead Mazda’s Business in the SA Market," he says.
Mazda SA remains committed to its SA Customers and Dealer Invested Partners and is excited about the Mazda Brand's future product line-up. This includes the All-New Mazda CX-5, which is heading for the SA market.
In addition, Customer Centric Product elements such as its “industry leading” Unlimited Mileage Warranty and Service Plans, including the “first to market” customer service such as “Courtesy Service Vehicle Programs” and “Lifetime Replacement Parts Warranty”.
As fuel prices continue to climb across South Africa, many motorists are beginning to question whether owning a car still makes financial sense. With in-land petrol prices now at R26.63 a litre and diesel costs rising sharply in May, transport expenses are placing growing pressure on household budgets.
Pinewood.AI has added two new embedded modules to its Business Intelligence Solution, giving dealers and OEMs greater insight into financial performance and the customer journey, it says.
Two new off-grid, solar-powered charging stations for electric vehicles (EV) have been switched on as part of the Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) network.
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Pinewood.AI has added two new embedded modules to its Business Intelligence Solution, giving dealers and OEMs greater insight into financial performance and the customer journey, it says.
Margins are shrinking, customers are under financial strain, and competition is intensifying across South Africa’s motor retail sector. Against this backdrop, dealerships are being forced to rethink how they remain profitable while still building customer trust and long term sustainability.
Ford will launch seven new models in Europe by 2029, it announced recently, as it seeks to grow its flagging passenger car sales, fend off fierce competition from Chinese rivals and maintain an edge in the continent's commercial vehicle market.
