SA Auto Week puts investment at the centre of the industry’s next chapter.
By Mandla Mpangase
The question facing South Africa’s
automotive industry is no longer whether
the global transition is coming. It is
whether the country can attract the
investment needed to remain part of it.
That question is a central focus at SA
Auto Week 2026, being held at the
Durban International Convention Centre,
from 13 to 16 October. The fifth annual
gathering brings government, industry
and investors together to discuss policy,
manufacturing, new-energy vehicles and
the conditions needed to drive
investment and inclusive growth.
For automotive investment destinations such as TASEZ, the NEV transition presents opportunities to localise components, attract new production technologies and develop suppliers across the value chain.
For the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ), the debate goes to the heart of its mandate: making South Africa a competitive destination for automotive investment, while strengthening the industrial base around it. “South Africa’s automotive future will be shaped by where the next wave of production, technology and supplier investment is built. TASEZ is working to make Tshwane a compelling place for that investment, with world-class, fit-for-purpose facilities, access to an established automotive base and support to help investors move from interest to operation,” said Msokoli Ntombana, TASEZ Business Development Executive. The timing is significant. South Africa’s automotive exports reached a record R291bn in 2025, according to naamsa, underscoring the sector’s value to the economy, and the scale of the opportunity to deepen local production and supply chains. The industry accounts for 5.2% of GDP and 23.8% of manufacturing output, while vehicle and component exports reach 154 international markets.
But the latest figures also reveal the pressures on the industry. Domestic new-vehicle sales rose 12.7% year on year to 61,645 units in September, according to naamsa’s October media statement, while vehicle exports fell 18.8% to 31,473 units.
The contrast underscores the need to turn demand at home into stronger local production and sustainable export growth.
The shift to new-energy vehicles adds urgency. Sales of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and batteryelectric vehicles reached 18,945 units in the first eight months of 2026, already exceeding the 16,703 sold throughout 2025. For automotive investment destinations such as TASEZ, that transition presents opportunities to localise components, attract new production technologies and develop suppliers across the value chain.With automotive manufacturing employing about 113,000 people, investment decisions carry consequences well beyond vehicle assembly. The challenge for SA Auto Week is to turn discussions on competitiveness, localisation and the energy transition into projects that expand industrial capacity and create jobs