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
As the 2023 school year draws to an end, Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) visited Ulwazi High School, which received grade 8 – 12 Mathematics, English and Accounting handbooks, study guides and educator manuals earlier in the year.
Ulwazi is the second high school after Phelindaba Maths, Science and ICT School of Specialisation in Atteridgeville to receive the study material, collectively worth R1 million. This sponsorship forms part of the socio-economic development programme, BEE123 schools’ capacitation initiative that provides the highest quality educational material to under-resourced schools in South Africa.
Two days prior to DTSA’s visit to the school, the top ten grade 12 learners in the school had the opportunity to visit the DTSA assembly plant to experience the production of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Buses, and FUSO Trucks first hand.
To further ignite the students’ passion for commercial vehicles and the DTSA brands, they received a career day and had the opportunity to meet the DTSA plant management team to provide more information about the career streams available at DTSA.

Ulwazi High School is a no-fee, public high school with 1 536 learners and achieved a 100% matric pass rate for the past seven years. Apart from supporting and equipping students on an academic level, the school also focuses on being a body of knowledge to prepare students for all spheres of life.
Mihlali Makhalima, Principal of Ulwazi High School, made the following comment: “Ulwazi High School and the larger Ulwazi community are extremely thankful for this remarkable sponsorship by Daimler Truck Southern Africa. We will never forget the assistance DTSA offered our learners, and we promise to deliver only the best results in 2023.”
“I cannot overemphasise the importance of education to drive South Africa forward. DTSA is enthusiastic about the youth of South Africa as the future generation of leaders of this wonderful country, and the opportunity to visit Ulwazi High school, experience the energy of the students and see the impact our sponsorship made in the daily lives of the students were truly humbling,” said Michael Dietz, President and Group-CEO, Daimler Truck Southern Africa.
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.