ALL roads are leading to eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, as the automotive industry prepares to commemorate five years of SA Auto Week and its growing role as the sector’s premier platform for shaping the future of mobility and automotive industrialisation in South Africa.
Taking place from 13–16 October 2026, this year’s edition will convene government, vehicle manufacturers, component manufacturers, retailers, financiers, organised labour, investors and other industry stakeholders around the critical issues shaping the sector’s future, including competitiveness, localisation, transformation, investment, the energy transition, global trade and the resilience of South Africa’s automotive value chain.
Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council says that, against a backdrop of changing global trade dynamics, the transition towards New Energy Vehicles, intensifying competition for automotive investment and evolving consumer conditions, SA Auto Week 2026 must move the industry beyond dialogue towards practical action. The opportunity is to strengthen South Africa’s position as a globally competitive automotive production base while expanding localisation, investment, exports, transformation and sustainable employment.
Highlights of SA Auto Week 2026
The programme will bring together a series of industry, investment, transformation and networking platforms, including:
- NEV Road Trip, from 9 – 11 October, showcasing new energy vehicle technologies and the transition towards cleaner mobility.
- Transformation Day, taking place on 13 October, powered by the naamsa Dreams Academy, focusing on transformation, skills and enterprise development.
- African Automotive Indaba, taking place from 14–15 October, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, investors and stakeholders to engage on the key issues shaping the sector.
- naamsa Pavilion and Expo, showcasing businesses, products, services and capabilities from across the automotive value chain.
- KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference, connecting the province’s investment opportunities with automotive manufacturing, logistics, energy and infrastructure priorities.
- Captains of Industry Dinner powered by Absa, bringing together senior industry leaders, policymakers and strategic stakeholders for an evening of engagement and connection.
- naamsa Accelerator Awards powered by WesBank, recognising organisations and individuals contributing to innovation, transformation and growth across the automotive industry.
- Automotive Plant Tours, taking place on 16 October, providing delegates with a first-hand view of South Africa’s automotive manufacturing capabilities.
This year’s gathering is strengthened by the partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and eThekwini Municipality, with KwaZulu-Natal serving as the 2026 partner province. The programme will also incorporate the KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference, bringing together automotive industrial policy and the province’s broader investment agenda.
The 2026 edition is further supported by a strong network of Anchor and Headline Partners, partners and stakeholders, including Absa, the Automotive Industry Development Centre-Gauteng Province (AIDC-GP), the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ), Eastern Cape Province, WesBank, Rand Mutual and Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF), whose continued involvement supports the broader objectives of SA Auto Week and the development of South Africa’s automotive industry.
Cars.co.za is the event’s official media partner.
