Chery names its first bakkie Grootman
Chery has named its first bakkie for South Africa Grootman, a name chosen by South Africans. The model is planned to make its local debut in the first quarter of 2027.
- Product News
- 2 October 2026
Absa Insurance was recognised for outstanding success at the prestigious 2023 SAMBRA Awards in three significant categories: Best Insurer, Winner in the Service Excellence Category and Best Insurance Payer.
The SAMBRA Awards, organised jointly by the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA) and Lightstone Group, celebrate the highest standards of quality and service in the motor body repair sector.
The winners were chosen through voting by over 650 SAMBRA members, followed by independent collation and auditing by Lightstone Group. An awards ceremony was held in Johannesburg recently.
Being recognised at these awards highlights Absa’s commitment to maintaining robust industry standards and excelling in areas crucial to both repairers and customers such as fair business practices, prompt payment and customer service. These accolades demonstrate Absa’s dedication to excellence and leadership in the insurance sector.
"Winning these awards in such important categories is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team," said Collin Molepe (photo), Managing Executive: Absa Insurance Company. "At Absa, we are committed to delivering exceptional service and support to the automotive repair industry and our customers. These awards acknowledge our continuous efforts in delivering superior customer experiences and maintaining fruitful relationships with motor body repairers across South Africa."
Absa Insurance Company is the bank’s short-term insurance arm and is one of South Africa’s leading providers of comprehensive car and home insurance solutions, which are suited to customer needs.
Absa extends its gratitude to SAMBRA and Lightstone for the acknowledgment and remains dedicated to advancing industry standards and delivering unparalleled service to its partners and clients.
South Africa’s new vehicle market recorded aggregate domestic sales of 61 645 units in September 2026, an increase of 12.7% compared with the 54 706 units sold during September 2025.
SA Auto Week 2026 is scheduled to take place in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, from 13 to 16 October, with the event marking five years of SA Auto Week.
South Africa’s domestic new-vehicle market strengthened in September, recording 61 645 sales, its highest monthly total of 2026. Sales increased by 3 747 vehicles, or 6.5%, from August’s originally reported total and were 12.7% higher than in September 2025.