Dakar - South African crews dig deep as second week begins
The 2026 Dakar Rally roared back into action on Monday with Stage 8, a gruelling 481km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir.
- Industry News
- 12 January 2026
The Mazda brand has undergone many evolutions since it first started as a cork manufacturer in the 1920s, and the way Mazda South Africa (MSA) has evolved over decades is no different.
The past few years have seen a seismic shift in how companies operate and how the public interacts with their chosen brands. For this reason, Mazda is undergoing another evolution, which includes some brand repositioning and improved communication channels with its customers.
For Mazda South Africa, this includes a new location for its local headquarters. The new MSA head office is now at Hertford Office Park, Midrand.
According to Craig Roberts, MD of Mazda Southern Africa: “We saw an opportunity to move to a space that better reflects Mazda’s brand repositioning and which, at the same time, can accommodate the changes that have taken place in office and workplace environments.”
The new workplace is specifically designed to provide for an improved working environment for all Mazda SA team members from its convenient and central location, office design and available amenities.
Along with the move to new premises, MSA will also incorporate hybrid working models into its operations. “We realised that the traditional corporate office environment no longer met the requirements needed to be effective and no longer appealed to all employees.
“In today’s world of instant and immediate demands on operations, MSA knows that employee well-being and work-life balance are essential for employees to deliver on their work objectives,” Craig says.
In addition to the office move, Mazda South Africa is introducing a WhatsApp & Call-in number - 0861 370 134 - that will be a dedicated ‘open line’ for customers to contact MSA head office.
According to Craig: “Effective communication channels are the foundation for any brand to succeed, and our dedicated WhatsApp number is simply one part of Mazda’s ongoing efforts to simplify communication with our customers.”
The 2026 Dakar Rally roared back into action on Monday with Stage 8, a gruelling 481km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir.
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