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
In Abu Dhabi, a rare car licence plate with the single-digit number "P7" was sold for a whopping $15 million, which is approximately R218 million. Mind you, a standard personalised number plate with seven letters or numbers can cost around R2 500 to R5 000 in South Africa.
The sale of the licence plate set a new bar in the United Arab Emirates, surpassing a previous record set more than a decade ago for a licence plate with the number "7".
The licence plate was sold at a charity auction, with all proceeds going towards Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global food aid initiative, the 1 Billion Meals Endowment. The auction attracted wealthy bidders from around the world, with the winning bid coming from an anonymous buyer.
The P7 licence plate is considered to be one of the most coveted in the world, as single-digit licence plates are extremely rare and highly sought after. The sale of the licence plate not only broke records but also raised significant funds for a worthy cause.
As the gavel came down on the record-breaking sale, attendees cheered and congratulated the buyer on his/her new acquisition. The sale of the P7 licence plate will be remembered as a historic moment in the United Arab Emirates and serves as a reminder of the wealth and extravagance that can be found in the region.
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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Cars are the ultimate symbol of freedom, independence and individualism. They offer the freedom to ‘go anywhere,’ whenever it suits and with whom one chooses.
Sarah Redshaw
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.