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
Ford South Africa's Celebration of the Century Competition has culminated in a heartwarming event where Lodewikus Erasmus claimed the grand prize – the full purchase price of the Ranger Wildtrak that he bought from Human Auto Bloemfontein during the competition’s entry period.
This competition marked a significant milestone in Ford’s 100-year anniversary celebrations in South Africa and was open to anyone who had purchased a new Ford vehicle from a Ford dealership between 1 October 2023 and 31 December 2023. To finalise their entries, customers registered their details on the Ford South Africa website.
“We wanted to have customers celebrate with us in a way that was more meaningful than just a traditional brand campaign, and Ford South Africa turning 100 years old provided the right impetus,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa.
“Our goal was to present Ford as an intrinsic part of South Africa’s history and a brand that understands South Africa and its roots,” she says.

The Celebration of the Century Competition comprised two parts, ensuring that the excitement continued to grow with regular opportunities to walk away with a valued prize.
One hundred vouchers, each to the value of R50 000, were offered as prizes, and every week saw a random lucky draw of seven winners from around the country. The dealerships then got in touch with the winners who could redeem their prizes for cash or a voucher to buy goods, or to redeem them for anything, including workshop services or service plans from the dealership.
The grand prize – which was open to anyone who entered the competition – was a cheque for the full purchase value of the vehicle.
The handover event, held at Human Auto Bloemfontein, was attended by Erasmus, his family and key Ford personnel, making it an emotional and unforgettable day for all involved.
“I am still waiting for this feeling to set in,” says a delighted Erasmus. “Thanks to my father, I grew up around Fords and I’ve probably owned close to 20 Fords in my lifetime, including Cortinas, Sierras, Telstars, Falcons and Courier bakkies. I haven’t had many problems over the years, and Ford has always been quick to assist. This Ranger Wildtrak will be used on my farm in Hoopstad, Free State, abd will also be my daily vehicle,” says Erasmus.
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.