The winners of the 2026 Automotive Business Council | naamsa Accelerator Awards were announced at the recently held Auto Week 2026, which took place in eThekwini, KZN.
New vehicle sales:
In the passenger segment, the VW Polo Vivo was named Passenger Car of the Year, while the GWM Tank 300 took Passenger Biggest Achiever of the Year. The Toyota Hilux won Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year, and the Ford Tourneo Custom was named LCV Biggest Achiever of the Year.
In the heavier commercial categories, the Isuzu N-Series won Medium Commercial Vehicle of the Year. The FAW CA 15 took Heavy Commercial Vehicle of the Year, and the FAW CA 28 won Extra-heavy Commercial Vehicle of the Year. The MAN Bus was named Bus of the Year, and the MAN TGX won Other Commercial Vehicle Achiever of the Year.
The New Energy awards were split by powertrain. The BYD Dolphin Surf won Battery Electric Vehicle of the Year, the Haval H6 took Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle of the Year, and the Toyota Corolla Cross was named Traditional Hybrid Vehicle of the Year. Haval also received the New Energy Achiever of the Year award.
Manufacturing, dealerships and importers:
The VW Polo won both Top Locally Manufactured Vehicle of the Year and Top Exported Vehicle of the Year.
Suzuki Fourways was named Passenger Dealer of the Year, and Carter Renault Johannesburg won Passenger Dealer Achiever of the Year. The Suzuki Swift took the Imported Vehicle of the Year award.
Transformation awards:
In the Job Creators category, Toyota won among locally manufacturing OEMs, MAN Automotive in the MHCV segment, and Hyundai among importers.
The Youth Empowering and Women Empowering awards produced the same names. Toyota won both among locally manufacturing OEMs, and UD Trucks Southern Africa won both in the MHCV segment. Hyundai took both in the importers manufacturing segment.
The WesBank Powered Transformation Awards recognised three companies with the Next Gen Workforce Award. VWGA won among locally manufacturing OEMs, Hyundai among importers, and Daimler Truck Southern Africa in the MHCV segment.
Auto media awards:
Roy Cokayne was named Top Business Journalist of the Year, and Ryan Bubear won Top Auto Journalist of the Year. Des Rikhotso took the Top Social Commentator of the Year Award, and Cars.co.za was named Top Media House of the Year.
Hero’s awards and Hall of Fame:
Within the naamsa Hero’s Award, Janet van der Walt received the naamsa Value Creator of the Year Award, and Mkhululi Mlota won the Long Service Award. The Presidential Hall of Fame Award, which carries the naamsa Lifetime Achievement Award, went to Osman Arbee.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
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