Kia’s Tasman bakkie arrives in South Africa
Kia has taken a bold step into one of South Africa’s most competitive automotive segments with the launch of the Tasman, its first-ever double cab bakkie.
- Product News
- 9 April 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.”
Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has reached another major milestone with the production of the 500 000th unit of the current Polo for the export market.
Nissan South Africa has agreed to sell its Rosslyn production facility after 60 years of operation. The plant, which produced models such as the 1400 ‘Champ’ bakkie, NP200 and Navara, was acquired by Chery SA. The Chinese automaker has sold over 80,000 vehicles locally since 2021 and is now strengthening its African presence.
Following an intense national selection process that pushed participants to the limit, South Africa’s representatives for the 2026 Defender Trophy global final have been decided.