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
Bridgestone Southern Africa (BSAF) has relocated its Bridgestone Mining Solutions store from the Northern Cape town of Postmasburg to the Kathu mining town in the same province.
The store’s new site officially launches in March 2022, offering its comprehensive range of Off-The-Road (OTR) Tyre repairs and wheel alignment for passenger vehicles.
It will also now offer 4IR Technologies, such as iTrack 2 and Toolbox, digital systems that ensure tyre safety and efficient usage management, on top of traditional tyre fitment offerings, making it the flagship store in the Mining Solutions network.
“This relocation brings us closer to our mining clients in the region, so we can provide them with an enhanced service,” says Anton Wessels – Commercial Sales Director at Bridgestone Southern Africa. “OTR tyre repairs require specialised expertise and a close working relationship with customers. Also, the iTrack 2 is a specialised technology that is a game changer for tyre safety, which ensures the efficient use of tyres, whilst maximising productivity for mining clients.”
In addition to moving closer to existing mining customers and new potential customers (including Mokala Mine and East Manganese, to name a few) and thus reducing the distance for customers and improve service times, Bridgestone is also looking to enhance the working environment for employees and provide a better customer experience. Furthermore, it hopes to increase its service offering (including wheel alignment for passenger vehicles) to the general public and customers from the mining industry.,
The R10 million investment in the new store is an operation of 15 highly skilled individuals, and the figure is set to increase to 20 over the coming year, with a recruitment drive focused on wheel alignment technicians and tyre repair centre employees.
“Over the past year, we saw record prices and a demand for gold, platinum, iron ore and even coal, with the industry exceeding all expectations,” Anton says. “With the economy coming out of a global pandemic, we anticipate an even higher demand, as economies transition from fossil fuels. This move will require resources that will come from resource-rich countries like South Africa,” Anton adds.
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.
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.
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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.