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
BMW Group Financial Services South Africa has announced the appointment of Roger Rooden (photo) as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of BMW Group Financial Services South Africa.
He has taken over from Irene Koeppel who has held this position since 1 November 2021. Irene has been working for the BMW Group for the last 20 years in various leadership functions and business areas and has now returned to Germany.
Roger Rooden has had an extensive and diverse career, including experience in sales, organisational consultancy, risk and finance. He began within ING Bank and ING Car Lease before moving to the BMW Group when ING Car Lease was acquired by Alphabet, BMW Group Financial Services’ fleet management arm.
Roger has held key positions across the global organisation, including CFO of BMW Group Financial Services Japan, and more recently, CFO of BMW Group Financial Services Sub-Region Northern Europe. He arrived in South Africa on 15 August to begin fulfilling his role in person.
Commenting on his appointment, Roger says he firmly believes that growth and profitability result from a combination of customer focus, operational excellence and close collaboration – particularly between the National Sales Company (NSC) and National Financial Services Company (NFSC), and the retail partners. “In leading this multi-talented and technologically savvy finance team, I intend to help shape financing strategies and decisions for the future.”
Stefan Schuett, CEO of BMW Group Financial Services South Africa, commented: “Roger has incredible knowledge about clients and retailers. He joins our team with an impressive track record of growing and advancing organisations, complemented by a delightfully human approach. On behalf of the team, I wish him all the best in his new role and look forward to working alongside him.”
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.