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 South Africa Motors (TSAM) celebrated the exceptional achievements of its agricultural community at the Farmer of the Year Awards Gala.
This annual event recognises innovation, sustainability and excellence in farming across South Africa.
By partnering with Agri SA and Conservation SA, Toyota’s mission is to uplift and empower farmers. The agrisector is a crucial component of the nation’s economy, contributing significantly to food security, employment and export earnings.
To this effect, the Young Farmer Awards offer an opportunity to reward excellence, inspire community collaboration and provide vital support. Award recipients receive not only recognition but also access to technical support and opportunities to share best practices within the agricultural sector.
Rudzani Sadiki from the Thabazimbi area in Limpopo was honoured as the New Harvest of the Year 2025 for his diversified farming operations, which include sunflower, cattle, sheep and broilers. Rudzani’s work demonstrates outstanding integration of modern techniques and strong management strategies. His sustainable approach has achieved consistently high yields. As a winner in this category, Rudzani was also awarded a brand-new Toyota Hilux, Single-Cab, 2.4 GD-6 RB Raider 6MT.
Francois Rossouw was awarded Young Farmer of the Year 2025. Previously recognised as the Agri Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year, Francois is transforming the viticulture sector with precision farming practices. He was honoured for his dedication to innovation and sustainable table grape cultivation.
Iqhude Supply and Farming was awarded the Communal Farming Association of the Year 2025. Based in Elim in the Western Cape, Iqhude Supply and Farming has exemplified community-driven agricultural success. Their integrated operations in flower cultivation, cattle and sheep farming blend traditional communal practices with progressive management for increased productivity and social impact.
Commenting on the awards, Leon Theron, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors says: “At Toyota, we understand that farming demands reliability, strength and versatility. We are therefore proud to be associated with the Young Farmer, New Harvest and Communal Farming Awards as they showcase the resilience and forward-thinking spirit of our agricultural community.”
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.