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
An exclusive conference organised by Keyloop, the largest global automotive technology company, will be held in Sandton tonight (Wednesday, 24 April), where the future of the automotive world will be discussed and how to revolutionise growth and customer loyalty.
Keyloop is a global provider of automotive retail solutions that will benefit vehicle dealerships at all levels with innovative software that can enhance, on the one hand, the complete buying experience for customers and on the other, streamline the total business operations.
With this conference, Keyloop will be bring together C-suite executives, management and key decision-makers to discuss the transformative power of experiences in the automotive sector and Keyloop’s Experience-First vision.
The event will also include a dynamic panel discussion with industry experts on the automotive industry and includes the following speakers:
• James Fernandez, CRO Keyloop.
• Paul-Roux de Kock, Chief Analytics Officer, Lightstone Auto.
• Harm Stavast, Sales Director Keyloop.
• Jacqui Barker, Global OEM Director, Keyloop.
The discussion will be followed by ample time for a Q&A session and one-on-one conversations.
The event follows the launch of Keyloop’s Experience-First platform. This marks a fundamental shift in how automotive retailers and OEMs approach selling, driven by consumers who expect brands to provide high-touch interactions and empowering dealers to focus on delivering the x-factor – surprising, delighting and truly connecting with customers.
Keyloop’s product suite includes Dealer Management Systems, Sales & Marketing, Stock Management, managing Aftersales and the Workshop, as well as Customer Care.
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.