Bakkies take centre stage at Nampo 2026
Nampo Harvest Day near Bothaville in the Free State has always been the place where South Africa’s farming community gathers to see the latest machinery and, importantly, new bakkies.
- Industry News
- 13 May 2026
At Halfway Toyota in Howick, workshop foreman Devesh Saamcharan stole a march on his Japanese colleagues in the Toyota Motor Corporation when he assembled a few foot-operated, hand-sanitiser dispensers back in May 2020.
The dispenser proved to be a novelty in May, before it became commonplace in dealers across South Africa.
Toyota announced recently that its Kamigo Parts Centre in Japan will be making up to 2 500 sanitiser stands a month, which are to be sold or leased to dealers in Japan from December onwards.
Saamcharan told Dealerfloor he built his stands as strong but as cheaply as possible, using wood and old clutch housings that he salvaged at the dealership. To this he added only a few new bolts, making it a very cost-effective solution for the dealership.
The sturdy stands are in daily use at the busy Halfway dealership, but despite being stepped on many times a day, are still cleaning hands as fast as the bottles can squirt.
Nampo Harvest Day near Bothaville in the Free State has always been the place where South Africa’s farming community gathers to see the latest machinery and, importantly, new bakkies.
Two leading Springbok rugby players, Aphelele Fassi and Jordan Hendrikse, have taken delivery of their new Nissan Navara Pro4X bakkies in Durban.
Dealership service departments know the pattern: the moment warranties and service plans expire; a portion of owners quietly migrate to the independent aftermarket.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
Dealership service departments know the pattern: the moment warranties and service plans expire; a portion of owners quietly migrate to the independent aftermarket.
Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa announced its top-performing Agents and Dealers for 2025, recognising their exceptional dedication, customer service and commitment to the brand.
In today’s automotive retail environment, where new vehicle prices keep climbing beyond the reach of many consumers, used vehicles have become the backbone of dealership profitability.