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
The first-ever Easter Jeep Safari will be held from 3 to 6 April 2026 at the Gariep Forever Resort.
Hosted in collaboration with Jeep Club South Africa, the inaugural event brings together all owners who share a simple instinct in their DNA: if there’s a dirt trail nearby, drivers of Jeep vehicles are going to want to explore it.
“Jeep South Africa is fortunate to have such a strong and engaged customer base through its club community,” says Janus Janse van Rensburg, Head of Marketing and Sales for Jeep South Africa at Stellantis.
“The stalwarts behind the club organise monthly events and excursions, and now they’re taking things up a notch with the first Easter Jeep Safari in South Africa. It’s incredibly exciting for Jeep South Africa to partner on something like this and spend time with the passionate people who make this Jeep brand what it is,” he adds.
The four-day programme leans into exactly what owners of Jeep vehicles enjoy most. Guided trail drives will take participants through challenging terrain while community competitions, Jeep build showcases, and relaxed social gatherings create plenty of opportunities for owners to connect. And, when the driving is done for the day, evenings shift into the social side of the lifestyle, with campfires, the scent of braais on the breeze, conversation and plenty of planning the next day’s route.
“This event is about bringing the Jeep community together in a way South Africa has never seen before,” says Anne-Marie Engelbrecht, President of Jeep Club South Africa. “The Easter Jeep Safari isn’t only about driving trails, but also the friendships, stories and shared passion that make the Jeep community so special.”
In another milestone for local owners, Jeep South Africa will cover Jeep Club South Africa membership fees for all customers who purchase a new Jeep vehicle from an authorised dealer in 2026.
Netcare Diagnostics (a Netcare Group business) is introducing its first fully electric vehicles to its transport fleet, starting with shorter urban routes for collecting patient pathology specimens.
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.