The 2025 SA Auto Week, hosted from 1 to 3 October in Gqeberha, marked a powerful moment of convergence: an industry looking boldly to the future while celebrating its storied past. As naamsa The Automotive Business Council returned to its founding city, the event stood as a symbol of legacy and transformation — perfectly timed in a year when naamsa celebrates its 90th anniversary.
Established in 1935 in what was then Port Elizabeth, naamsa has spent nine decades driving the growth, regulation, and reinvention of South Africa’s automotive sector. Returning to Gqeberha in 2025 was not just symbolic —it was strategic, honouring the roots of the organisation while laying foundations for the next generation of mobility on the continent.
In partnership with the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, this year’s edition brought together over 3,000 delegates — from global OEMs and component manufacturers to policymakers, investors, and mobility innovators. The gathering reaffirmed the Eastern Cape’s role as South Africa’s premier automotive province, responsible for 38% of national vehicle production.
At the heart of the event’s success was Eastern Cape MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Nonkqubela Pieters. Her leadership was instrumental in ensuring that the province didn’t just host the event—it led it.
Hosting SA Auto Week in Gqeberha was a strategic decision grounded in legacy and potential. MEC Pieters championed an agenda focused on inclusive growth, investment attraction, and long-term sustainability. Her presence throughout the programme—including policy forums, investment showcases, and development roundtables —reinforced her commitment to building a provincial economy that delivers opportunity for all.
Under the theme:
“Reimagining the Future, Together: Cultivating Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity,”
SA Auto Week 2025 explored how the sector can transform through collaboration, innovation, and responsible leadership. From CEO Roundtables to the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Road Trip, and from SMME showcases to Public Policy Masterclasses, the programme addressed the complex challenges—and boundless potential—of Africa’s automotive ecosystem.
A highlight of the event was its setting: the Coega Special Economic Zone. Home to global players such as BAIC, FAW Trucks, Faurecia, Grupo Antolin, and Hella, Coega has evolved into a blueprint for smart, sustainable industrialisation. With its world-class infrastructure and investor-focused model, the SEZ proved to be the ideal venue for such a future-facing summit. Reflecting on the significance of returning to Gqeberha, naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa said: “This year, as we mark 90 years of naamsa, it was deeply meaningful to bring SA Auto Week back to the city where our journey began. We’re not just honouring our past—we’re actively building the future, and the Eastern Cape is central to that vision.”
Key highlights included the Premier’s Breakfast, the Captain of Industry Gala Dinner, the naamsa Accelerator Awards, and dynamic exhibitions featuring South African and global mobility innovations.
Throughout it all, MEC Pieters’ steady vision remained clear: economic development must serve people. Her emphasis on skills development, SMME integration, and green industrial policy positioned the province not only as a production powerhouse—but as a people-first innovation hub. “We are building an economy that creates real, lasting opportunity for our people—and SA Auto Week 2025 is a major step in that journey.”
As the global automotive industry races into an era of technological disruption and redefined mobility, South Africa’s path forward is being shaped by legacy, leadership, and bold partnerships.
Marking an extraordinary milestone, naamsa–The Automotive Business Council, proudly celebrated its 90th anniversary during the 2025 SA Auto Week in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Partnering with the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, the event reflected on nine decades of progress and partnership that have shaped South Africa’s automotive landscape. The celebrations featured a keynote address by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks TAU, and a symbolic cake-cutting ceremony led by naamsa CEO Billy TOM, underscoring the legacy and forward-looking vision. Beyond commemorating its history, naamsa used this moment to look ahead — hosting thought-provoking discussions on the future of the country’s automotive industry, particularly the transition toward new vehicle technologies. As naamsa embarks on its next chapter, the road ahead looks more connected, inclusive, and visionary than ever before.
TransUnion Summit
The TransUnion Summit returned once again this year, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and experts to explore the rapidly evolving future of the automotive sector. The summit delved into key themes shaping mobility today—from electrification and emerging technology to data-driven insights that are redefining consumer expectations and financing models. Through engaging presentations and panel discussions, TransUnion and a range of thought leaders unpacked the challenges and opportunities facing both the South African and broader African automotive markets. The event offered a forward-thinking platform for collaboration of trends that are driving transformation across the industry.
Captains of Industry
The Captains of Industry Dinner, held at the historic Feather Market Centre, provided a fittingly elegant backdrop for an evening of insight, collaboration, and vision. This annual gathering brought together senior industry leaders, policymakers, and key stakeholders to explore the strategic direction of South Africa’s automotive sector.
Delivering the keynote address, Geoffrey Lee, Interim Co-Chief Executive of Absa Personal and Private Banking, shared powerful insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry’s future.
The dinner also featured an inspiring address from Honourable Mr. Mlungisi Mvoko, MEC: Provincial Finance, who shared his perspective on the industry’s transformative potential and strategic direction.
His message underscored the importance of innovation and partnership in driving sustainable growth and competitiveness within the sector.
With Absa’s support, the Captains of Industry Dinner reaffirmed SA Auto Week’s commitment to fostering impactful partnerships and driving influential conversations that will benefit the automotive sector both locally and globally.
Against the beautiful backdrop of the Feather Market, the evening served as a powerful reminder that collaboration and vision remain the driving forces shaping the future of South Africa’s automotive industry.
naamsa Accelerator Awards
The naamsa Accelerator Awards 2025, powered by WesBank, brought the South African automotive community together in a powerful celebration of excellence, innovation, and collaboration at the close of the highly anticipated SA Auto Week 2025. Hosted at the Coega Vulindlela Conference Venue in Gqeberha, the beating heart of the nation’s automotive manufacturing industry–the awards marked a defining moment for a sector united in purpose as it accelerates toward a sustainable and inclusive future.
Now, in its fourth year, the Accelerator Awards once again served as the pinnacle of SA Auto Week, honouring the individuals, brands, and organisations that continue to drive transformation across the entire automotive value chain. The evening celebrated not only achievement but also the shared vision that connects every player in the industry, from manufacturers and importers to policymakers, dealers, and innovators.
