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
Toyota says as the official vehicle partner, mixed category sponsor and official route partner of the world’s premier mountain bike stage race, its partnership with the ABSA Cape Epic signifies the company’s commitment to endurance cycling.
One of the reasons the ABSA Cape Epic is a highlight for every mountain biker, whether amateur or professional, is because it’s the only eight-day mountain bike stage race classed as “hors catégorie” by the Union Cycliste Internationale. Some 680 two-person teams must race through 700 kilometres of untamed, unspoilt scenery and up 16 000 metres of virtually vertical ascents.
Every ABSA Cape Epic edition follows a different route, where riders must traverse varying terrain, with dusty and demanding gravel roads, gruelling rocky climbs, exhilarating technical descents, fast forest single tracks, and invigorating river crossings. Toyota is driving the route to new heights for 2024 with challenges and rewards aplenty in the form of scintillating single tracks and daily Toyota Tough sections.
The Land Cruiser, celebrated for its robust strength and refined luxury, is the chosen vehicle to transport guests of the ABSA Cape Epic Luxury Route Tours. There will also be Toyota SA Urban Trax activations at the world’s most televised mountain bike race to stoke spectators’ senses.
“The ABSA Cape Epic’s iconic, challenging and breath-taking routes through the Western Cape echo Toyota’s dedication to off-road adventures. We're honoured to fulfil our commitment to excellence in every aspect of this remarkable event,” says Glenn Crompton, Vice President for Marketing at TSAM.
In the upcoming race, the Toyota-Specialised-NinetyOne men’s and women’s teams, Toyota-Songo-NinetyOne team, Toyota Gazoo Mixed team, and Women’s Grand Masters team will all be riding to bring home medals.
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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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.