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
By Harm Stavast - Commercial Director - Keyloop Africa
South Africa's automotive landscape is undergoing a significant shift, with dealerships needing to adapt to changing consumer preferences to ensure loyalty, and aftersales play a crucial role in this.
Although the car buying process is often front of mind when we think of a retailer’s business operations, aftersales are the lifeblood of many dealerships, and they are where smart retailers are focusing their efforts.
To create an optimal aftersales experience, retailers must lean into the power of technology to transform their customer relationships and deliver a seamless journey for them. Research from McKinsey reveals that, in a world where experience drives loyalty as much as price, the majority (53%) of customers consider a better service experience to be more influential than the purchase experience in the entire customer journey. So, today’s retailers need to operate more than just dealerships; they need to be running experience centres.

Technology platforms are key to connecting data and streamlining operations to create a frictionless experience. Keyloop's platform enables retailers to deliver a great end-to-end service, boost efficiency with accurate work tracking, drive upselling with personalised communication, and use powerful data to drive customer loyalty.
For retailers looking to stand out from the competition, not only does this improve the overall effectiveness of their businesses, but it also enables them to foster better relationships and build longer-term consumer loyalty, in turn improving sales opportunities and boosting margins.
Find out how Experience-First is transforming the automotive retail industry and how you can apply these lessons to your business. https://keyloop.com/

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.