Cars.co.za report offers interesting insights
Cars.co.za recently launched Industry Report 2026 at its DealerCon summit, offers insight into the forces shaping South Africa’s vehicle market.
- Dealer News
- 22 September 2026
Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa announces that Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Zakes Bantwini, will join the Friend of the Brand (FOTB) programme. Zakes will be driving and living with the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 for the next 12 months.
“Zakes and I started our journey last year with the introduction of the all-new C-Class. I knew then that we would strike up a long-term partnership with many amazing collaborations to follow,” says Alexandra Boavida, vice-president of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa.
“Growing up in the ghetto, everyone dreams of one day driving a Mercedes-Benz. Every car that you drive along the way is just a stepping stone to one day having the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Benz.
“It is therefore an honour to have joined the family and to have the opportunity to enjoy this incredible car over the next 12 months. Thank you to the brilliant team at Mercedes-Benz for welcoming me so warmly; I cannot wait to see what we can do together with this partnership!” says Zakes.
The Friend of the Brand programme is designed to connect Mercedes-Benz South Africa with Brand Ambassadors who are pioneers and practitioners in their fields. The Friends of the brand programme use their skills to achieve success in diverse projects.
Other Friend of the Brand members include Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Tatjana Schoenmaker and other well-known sport stars and artists.
Car recalls often raise concern among owners, but the National Automobile Dealers' Association (NADA) says recall campaigns show that manufacturers are accountable and committed to quality, safety and customer care.
Affordability is driving a structural shift in South Africa’s vehicle market, with SUVs gaining significant ground as consumers increasingly seek competitively priced, well-equipped vehicles.
South Africa’s used car market continued to grow during the first half of 2026, despite pressure on household budgets and a 25 basis point interest rate increase in May.