Young motorists put affordability ahead of status
- Industry News
- 13 August 2026
Dealer industry news from around Southern Africa
Africa’s trade corridors have long been central to connecting the continent with global markets. The focus is shifting towards internal corridors, logistics infrastructure and regional integration that link manufacturers, farmers, mines and businesses across borders to create value within Africa.
BYD and Absa’s launch of BYD Finance is more than a branded vehicle finance arrangement. For Absa, it is part of a broader attempt to rethink how South Africans buy, use and support new-energy vehicles.
The launch of BYD Finance by BYD and Absa marks a significant development in South Africa's fast-growing electric vehicle market, with the two companies positioning the new offering as a catalyst for broader adoption of new energy vehicles across the country.
Nissan’s second‑quarter vehicle sales in the United States (US) showed a modest improvement, giving its new chief executive Ivan Espinosa some encouragement. Yet he acknowledges that the company still faces a significant challenge in restoring its position in the market.
Less than a year after launching its Drive Your Dreams Mentorship programme, Hyundai Automotive South Africa is already seeing measurable results from its investment, with participants achieving an average score of 87% across five workplace readiness modules.
South Africa's new vehicle market has recorded its best start to a year since 2013, with sales for the first four months of 2026 reaching 209 838 units, 12.5% higher than the 186 599 units sold over the same period in 2025.
According to SBD Automotive the connected car is no longer simply a vehicle with digital features added on top.
The 9th edition of the Festival of Motoring powered by WesBank will take place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from 28–30 August 2026, promising one of the most ambitious motoring showcases yet.
Buying a vehicle in South Africa is becoming about far more than the purchase price. Consumers are increasingly weighing the long term financial implications of vehicle ownership, from fuel and maintenance costs to finance structures and resale values.
The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) has named Henk Ferreira as its new Chief Operations Officer (COO), adding a seasoned automotive and financial services executive to its leadership team.
Chery International’s move to establish a vehicle assembly presence in Rosslyn has been welcomed as a significant boost for South Africa’s automotive sector, with Deputy President Paul Mashatile saying the investment should translate into jobs, skills development and wider participation by local businesses.
Nissan South Africa has donated five vehicles from its former automotive assembly plant to Freek de Kock, the owner and founder of the biggest private collection of Nissan and Datsun vehicles in the world.
The changing fortunes of South Africa's automotive industry were underlined when Chinese manufacturer Chery officially took over the former Nissan manufacturing plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, marking one of the most significant shifts in the country's vehicle manufacturing sector in recent years.
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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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