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
Maretha Gerber (Photo) made history when she was appointed the first female President and Group CEO for Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA).
She follows in the footsteps of Michael Dietz who takes on a new challenge as the President and CEO of Regional Centre Middle East and Africa.
Maretha is a born and bred South African and both she and Michael will start in their new roles, effective 1 April 2024.
“We are delighted to welcome Maretha Gerber as the new President and Group CEO for DTSA and the second female on the Daimler Truck Overseas ExCom team. With her vast experience and excellent client rapport, we cannot think of anyone better suited for this position.
“Likewise, with his extensive knowledge and broad experience, we are pleased to have won Michael for the Regional Centre Middle East and Africa. We wish both Maretha and Michael all the best in their new roles,” says Andreas von Wallfeld, Head of Daimler Truck Overseas.
“I am honoured to be given this opportunity in the role of President and Group CEO of Daimler Truck Southern Africa. I am excited to work with the experienced leadership team and talented employees at DTSA and to lead the group of companies to new heights.
“Together with our dealers and general distributors, we look forward to contributing to further growth and success and to build a brighter future for all stakeholders,” she says about her new role. “I would like to express my gratitude to Michael for his major contributions to the company and wish him all the success and fulfilment in the new chapter of his career,” Maretha concludes.
Michael congratulated Maretha and said with her proven track record, DTSA is left in very capable hands. “May you thrive in your new role. As I leave the Southern Africa region behind, I thank our customers, the DTSA network and DTSA group of companies’ employees for an amazing four years. Together we had a lot of success. This amazing and unique country and its people will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Maretha Gerber holds a degree in marketing and has more than twenty years’ experience within the Daimler organisation, including previously Daimler Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz South Africa. She held various management roles across sales, marketing and dealer network in these companies before moving to a Dealer Principal role in the Mercedes-Benz dealer network in Own Retail.
In 2018, she moved back to Head Quarters as the Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks and subsequently became the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Trucks and FUSO Trucks, the position she currently holds.
More information about Maretha Gerber’s successor will be shared in due course.
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.