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 South Africa has been awarded the prestigious Best Exporter Award in the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) category and the SJL Flex Environmental Merit award at the recent Eastern Cape Exporters awards held in Gqeberha.
The awards celebrate local businesses making an international impact, together with showcasing the talent and tenacity of some of the province’s top economic contributors.
The Best Exporter award in the OEM category recognises ISUZU’s growth and expansion in the export market while the SJL Flex Merit Award acknowledges the company’s efforts in making a positive impact to the environment and operational efficiency.
Isuzu has deepened and further grown its export market from the Eastern Cape to 25 markets across the African continent culminating in the company being the number one Eastern Cape-based automotive exporter into the African continent for 2022. This has had a positive effect on revenue growth and sustainable profitability, allowing the company to make a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
“Isuzu Motors South Africa has a BOLD agenda of creating a thriving automotive sector in Africa and driving the re-industrialisation of the African continent. We are extremely proud to receive the Best Exporter award in the OEM category as we are fully committed to growing the business throughout Africa, with focus on expanding our footprint and supporting trade initiatives and partnerships.
“Growth brings vast opportunities for us as a business, our dealers, the industry and country,” says Penelope Mkhwanazi, Senior Vice President for Revenue Generation in Rest of Africa and International Markets.
Penelope continues: “Over the past three years, Isuzu Motors South Africa has seen an increase in its sales by 59% in the 1-ton pick-up segment in the rest of Africa markets, sub-Saharan Africa. We have achieved 195% growth of commercial vehicles in the ROFA markets compared to the previous financial year.”
Isuzu also received the SJL Environmental Merit award for the third time recognising the interventions implemented to protect the environment.
The company achieved a 13.3% reduction in water usage and a 7.5% reduction in energy usage at all its sites while maintaining the recycling ratio of 99% for non-manufacturing facilities. Isuzu improved the recycling ratio for the main manufacturing operation from 95% in 2021 to 97% in 2022 with all company facilities continuing to be landfill-free since 2018.
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.