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
As the production shift ended on 31 March 2026 at the Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) manufacturing plant, a defining milestone in the company’s history was achieved.
During this financial year, IMSAf recorded a significant 21% year-on-year increase in production volumes for both the Isuzu D-MAX bakkie and Isuzu Trucks, with over 27 400 Isuzu D-MAX bakkies and more than 3 800 Isuzu Trucks produced at the plant.
This is not a story of a sudden surge; it is the culmination of a consistent journey of building trust. While hitting record production volumes, Isuzu has simultaneously retained its position as South Africa’s No. 1 medium- and heavy-commercial vehicle brand for the 13th year in a row. This achievement is not an isolated event but rather a reflection of sustained customer trust built through consistency, reliability and lifecycle value.
“Records are built on more than just machinery and equipment; they are built on the discipline of our people and the loyalty of our customers across the continent,” says Dominic Rimmer, Executive Vice President for Manufacturing and Product Engineering at Isuzu Motors South Africa.
“Every record-breaking vehicle that leaves our production line represents a promise kept to our customers. We aren't just chasing volumes; we are expanding responsibly to move the world for those who keep our economies moving. The success of this financial year is rooted in the collective effort, skills, and commitment of the IMSAf workforce; supported by strong systems and operational discipline," he says.
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.