The Toyota Starlet goes from zero to hero
- Industry News
- 3 September 2026
Dealer industry news from around Southern Africa
General Motors (GM) has renewed its joint venture with China's SAIC Motor Corp for another 20 years, enabling the United States (US) automaker to use China as an export hub amid rising competition from Chinese brands in and outside their home market.
Young South African motorists are increasingly opting for more affordable and practical vehicles as the cost of living puts pressure on household budgets, while still maintaining comprehensive insurance cover.
The row over BMW’s Spider-Man promotion is not really about superheroes. It is about trust, control and the creeping feeling that modern cars are becoming digital platforms first and private possessions second.
With Women’s Month well under way, Marcia Mayaba reflects on nearly three decades in automotive, the responsibility of leadership, the Woman of Stature honour, and why her greatest achievement may still lie ahead.
UD Trucks Southern Africa has received international recognition after winning the Marketing Excellence Award at the company's UD International Sales Leadership Summit.
With forecasts of snow, icy rain and stormy weather across the country, motorists are urged to drive carefully and adapt their driving style to suit the conditions.
From Fiat to Ferrari, results highlighted a growing gap between the carmakers raking in cash by selling gas-guzzling bakkies to Americans and those struggling to compete with Chinese rivals in a world that is slowly embracing electric.
Toyota is taking an unusual approach to vehicle ownership in Japan by expanding a factory-backed upgrade service that lets owners add new technology to older cars rather than replacing them.
Geely Auto South Africa has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Greg Maruszewski as Chief Operating Officer (COO). The move comes as the company builds on its strong market entry and prepares for the next phase of expansion in the country.
South Africa’s new vehicle market entered the second half of 2026 on a resilient footing, supported by substantial fuel price reductions in July that provided much needed relief to motorists and businesses, according to The Automotive Business Council | naamsa's sales figures for July.
South Africa’s new vehicle market continued its strong run in July, with total sales reaching 57 708 units, an increase of 11.9 per cent compared with the same month last year. Almost 85 per cent of all vehicles were retailed through dealerships, underscoring the importance of retail demand in sustaining momentum.
South Africa's automotive industry has made significant strides in creating more opportunities for women over the past decade, but industry leaders agree that much more needs to be done to build a workforce that better reflects the country's population.
Hyundai Motor and Kia are putting vehicle quality under the microscope at a specialist facility designed to find tiny imperfections before they become everyday irritations for drivers.
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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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