On July 16, multiple sources reported that Mercedes Benz South Africa is rethinking its operations at the East London plant as the South African industries that rely on exports are facing major challenges due to upcoming US tariffs. 
Acting Eastern Cape Premier said there are serious concerns that MBSA could leave th

On July 14, naamsa (The Automotive Business Council) announced that it has acknowledged the official communication sent by President Trump to the South African Government, regarding the imposition of a unilateral 30% reciprocal trade tariff.
The announced tariffs have impacted trade, with vehicle exports to the U.S.

On July 15, iCAUR, the expressive new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under the Chery Group, announced its official entry into the South African market. The brand plans to launch its first products and retail operations in the first quarter of 2026. The announcement comes after iCAUR’s local debut at the 2025 Festival of

On July 9, Opel unveiled the next-generation Grandland for the South African market. The new Grandland brings design elements from the Opel Experimental concept, including the 3D Vizor and illuminated Griffin logo.
Grandland GS Line 1.6T comes with a 1.6-litre turbo gasoline engine which generates output of 134 kW an

On July 4, Chery South Africa announced that it will launch its premium SUV brand, LEPAS, in the country in 2026.
The LEPAS L8 offers sleek design, a roomy and luxurious interior, and advanced driver-assist features. LEPAS plans to expand its lineup across various segments, offering stylish and versatile SUVs for bot

On July 2, BMW launched "Factory Genius," an AI-powered maintenance assistant that speeds up troubleshooting by suggesting solutions within seconds, cutting down diagnosis time.
Similar to a search engine, the tool scans internal data sources such as manuals, fault reports, and shift logs that are updated daily for q

On July 1, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, South Africa, announced that on the sidelines of the US-Africa Summit in Luanda, the Deputy Minister met with the US Assistant Trade Representative for Africa on June 24, 2025. 
The meeting followed South Africa's submission of a proposed Framework Deal wi

On July 1, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) announced that sales of new passenger and commercial vehicles in South Africa decreased 18.7% year-on-year to 47,294 units in June 2025. In the first half of 2025 sales volume increased 13.6% year-over-year to 278,911 units.
Pass

On June 20, Chery South Africa launched the Tiggo Cross HEV and Tiggo 7 CSH, a new PHEV derivative of the popular Tiggo 7 SUV.
The Tiggo Cross HEV is equipped with a 1.5-litre engine paired with a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) that produces 71 kW and 118 Nm of torque. With an electric motor and a 1.83 kWh batte

On June 18, GWM launched the new HAVAL H6 SUV, with refined design, upgraded technology and powerful drivetrain options, including gasoline turbo and dedicated hybrid technology (DHT) variants.
The gasoline variant is equipped with 2.0-litre turbo gasoline engine paired with a 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT),

On June 3, JAECOO revealed the new J5 SUV for the South African market. It’s a smaller, more affordable option for buyers wanting a premium SUV experience. Despite its compact size, the J5 offers the same luxury, safety, and convenience.
It features a 1.5-litre gasoline engine which generates output of 115 kW and 230

On June 4, Hyundai launched all-new 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE Hybrid, a three-row SUV in South Africa. The vehicle is priced at ZAR 1,249,900.
The vehicle measures 4,830 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width, and has a wheelbase of 2,815 mm. The vehicle is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine paired w

On June 2, Suzuki Auto South Africa, in partnership with real estate group Fortress, announced the groundbreaking of a new, custom-built head office and distribution centre at Longlake Logistics Park in Gauteng, South Africa.
The company will relocate from its current headquarters at Linbro Business Park to a new, cu

On May 26, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE), South Africa’s first company to develop a national network of off-grid, solar-powered ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, announced a ZAR 100 million equity investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). The funding will enable the rollout of CH

On May 28, OMODA and JAECOO announced that they will expand their lineup with the launch of a new C9 PHEV, a plug-in hybrid version of the flagship C9 range in South Africa.
The C9 PHEV is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged gasoline engine paired with four electric motors, producing a combined output of 440 kW and

On May 27, Volkswagen Africa moved to the next stage in preparing its Kariega plant to build a new B segment SUV Entry model starting in 2027, after 4 weeks of facility upgrades.
The model will join alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo on the same line. VW announced the plan in February 2025, revealing that 60% of the up

On May 22, JAECOO announced the upcoming launch of the J7 SHS, a plug-in hybrid variant of the J7 SUV, in the South African market. The vehicle is scheduled to launch in June 2025, making it the second JAECOO-branded model to debut in the region.
The vehicle is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre gasoline engine and

On May 22, FAW Trucks Southern Africa unveiled its 2025 model range, featuring the FAW 4.110 FL-MT, JK6 16.260 FL, and JK6 16.260 FL-AMT freight carriers, all tailored to meet local segment requirements.
The FAW 4.110 FL-MT is powered by a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine producing 81 kW at 3,200 rpm

On May 21, Fiat Professional launched the TRIS, its first-ever three-wheeled EV, in the Africa and Middle East (MEA) markets. It is designed for small businesses, TRIS comes in 3 versions i.e., chassis-cabin, flatbed, and pick-up—offering flexibility for different professional needs.
Designed in Centro Stile, Italy,

On May 14, Suzuki launched the fourth-generation Dzire in South Africa, expanding its local model lineup.
The new Dzire, built on Suzuki’s latest ‘HEARTECT’ platform, measures 3,995mm long, 1,735mm wide and 1,525mm tall. It is equipped with Suzuki’s Z12E 1.2-litre three-cylinder gasoline engine, which delivers 60 kW