The Automotive Business Council (naamsa) has announced that the local industry’s premium networking and thought-leadership conference would be held during the South African Auto Week at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Gauteng from 26 to 29 October 2022.
Themed, Reimagining the Future Together, the SA Auto Week will bring together industry thought leaders from local, regional, continental and global business and government institutions to consolidate efforts that will drive the transition to new energy vehicles and smarter technologies.
naamsa says it hopes the conference, which will be hosted in person and online, will help guide policy discussions and move the industry towards more clarity on the future of mobility, which includes new energy vehicles.
“Public policy drives business activity in relation to new energy vehicles,” said Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa. “The world is shifting and moving very quickly in this regard. We hope to accelerate the future of the automotive industry in SA. It needs to shift and change in the next 18 months to compete with other markets.”
Mabasa confirmed that all 49 OEM members of naamsa would participate, including both passenger and commercial vehicle manufacturers. The automotive industry contributes 4.3% to South Africa’s GDP (2.4% manufacturing and 1.9% retail).
“With the government having identified the automotive sector as a key sector for economic development in the country, SA Auto Week will pay attention to the latest automotive technologies and policies currently under consideration to ensure that the right decisions are made to support South Africa's recovery and economic growth ambitions,” said Mabasa.
SA Auto Week, sponsored by Absa, among others, is also endorsed by OICA, the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Mabasa said naamsa believes that the local industry will benefit from the organisation’s global insights during the event.
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You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.
Henry Ford
For decades, buying a car has been as much about emotion as practicality. Shiny brochures, polished showroom floors and persuasive sales talk often overshadowed the cold, hard numbers of ownership. But today, where information is currency, consumers are no longer satisfied with glossy marketing – they want data, and they want it now.
According to a Reuters report, South Africa is engaged in discussions with Chinese automotive manufacturers to encourage local investment, with at least one company showing considerable interest in establishing production facilities in the country, a senior government official revealed on Wednesday.
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