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
Isuzu Motors SA (IMSA) has announced that Komane Pitso is the new Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations at the Vehicle Conversion and Distribution Centre at Markman in Gqeberha.
The Commercial Operations Department has been established to provide efficacy in Supply Chain Management, Localisation, Procurement and Supplier Quality. Komane joins IMSA as a highly knowledgeable supply chain, procurement and localisation expert and leader.
He studied Procurement and Logistics and spent almost 20 years in the FMCG industry in various supply chain roles, from procurement engaging with suppliers, through to external logistics and customer collaborations.
He also has experience in developing production facilities in other sub-Saharan African countries and has gained logistics and operations experience in countries in West, East and Southern Africa.
Mongezi Hermans, Senior Vice President Human Capital & Corporate Affairs at Isuzu, says: "We welcome Komane Pitso to Isuzu Motors and wish him all the best with his appointment in this crucial role. He comes with vast experience, and we look forward to some fresh innovative ideas that will develop localisation opportunities for IMSA, in particular aligning to The South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) 2035.”
Hitting the ground running, Komane says his vision is to see IMSA being an automotive powerhouse in Africa, continuously growing volume and value, and empowering its people.
Komane holds a BTech degree in Purchasing Management.
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.