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
A new player in the commercial vehicle sector is getting ready to enter the market with up to ten dealerships. The aim is to kick off with a dealership in each province and in all the major centres.
Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group and India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, announced their new distribution partnership with ETGs logistics, warehousing and distribution vertical, ETG Logistics (ETGL).
The range of commercial vehicles is currently going through the homologation process in anticipation of its launch in July. The range includes commercial vehicles from a 1.5-ton bakkie up to a 20-ton truck available in different configurations.
ETG is a global conglomerate operating across various segments. An agreement was signed between the companies for cooperation in the distribution of products in the Southern African region. ETGL will operate dealerships for Ashok Leyland in six key Southern African countries as part of this strategic cooperation.
Amandeep Singh, Head of International Operations, Ashok Leyland, says they have ambitious growth plans for the African Market. “Our time-tested products are well suited for the African terrain and offer a superior value proposition to customers.
“ETG group’s extensive connect in these markets will complement our growth plans. We are already present in most of the East and West African countries. We now have the right product portfolio with Best in Class TCO to cater to requirements of this market and provide excellent value proposition for customers.”
Rajeev Saxena, CEO of ETGL, adds: “We are excited to announce our partnership with Ashok Leyland Ltd. This partnership will be instrumental in bringing a range of Commercial Vehicles solutions to address specific requirements of different customer groups in the territory.”
ETG has developed a diverse portfolio across multiple industries, encompassing agricultural inputs, logistics, distribution, merchandising, energy, food processing and supply chain optimisation. The group has a presence in 48 countries across six continents.
ETG Logistics operates an established automotive and farm equipment distribution business in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Kenya with plans to extend its footprint in East and Southern Africa.
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.