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
Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has bolstered its partnership with the Basadi Automotive Group through the sponsorship of a Mitsubishi Xpander.
The keys to the branded Mitsubishi Xpander were handed over to Basadi Automotive Group founder, Josephine Malakoane, at Mitsubishi Bedfordview.
Basadi Automotive Group was established by Josephine Malakoane in 2018 and is 100 percent Black female owned. The company specialises in vehicle transfers, vehicle carrier movements, de-fleet inspections and collections as well as new vehicle deliveries nationwide.
“Mitsubishi Motors SA has an existing partnership with Basadi Automotive Group through the Motus Enterprise and Supplier Development programme, and we are delighted to help the company take its business to the next level with the sponsorship of a Mitsubishi Xpander,” says Jeffrey Allison, General Manager: Marketing at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA).
The Mitsubishi Xpander’s combination of the versatility and practicality of a multipurpose vehicle, thanks to its seven-seater capability combined with the rugged and sporty looks of an SUV, makes it perfectly suited to the needs of the Basadi group, which will use the vehicle to transport drivers between vehicle collection points as part of Basadi Automotive Group’s vehicle-ferrying service.
“We previously relied on e-hailing services to move our drivers between vehicle drop off and collection points, so the Mitsubishi Xpander is going to make a massive difference in our business operationally as it will allow us to be independent and more efficient in our daily operations,” explains Josephine.
“The Xpander is perfect for our needs, it is spacious and comfortably accommodates seven adults, while it is also fuel efficient, which is always a consideration in a business that does a lot of travelling. In addition, the SUV styling of the Xpander means that we can travel in style without being mistaken for a minibus taxi,” she adds.
The Mitsubishi Xpander will be branded in Basadi Automotive livery, which will also allow the vehicle to act as a moving billboard as it travels to dealerships and stock yards around the country.
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.