SA Auto Week 2025 convened from 01–03 October at the Vulindlela Conference Centre in Gqeberha. Over three days, the event delivered on naamsa’s vision of “Reimagining the Future, TOGETHER,” uniting automotive OEMs, component suppliers, policymakers, financiers, media, youth delegates and SMMEs.
Highlights included the Premier’s Breakfast with provincial leaders, a rich three-stage conference programme, the African Automotive Indaba, a dynamic expo housed innovatively in a dome marquee plus outdoor displays, and two gala evenings the Captains of Industry Dinner and the naamsa Accelerator Awards.
Across the conference, innovative sessions on NEVs, localisation and global benchmarking shaped policy dialogue, while direct B2B matchmaking drove tangible investment leads.
The event achieved strong media traction and record delegate satisfaction, positioning SA Auto Week as Africa’s premier auto-industry forum.
4 Stages
Keynotes & Talks
Panel Discussions
Dinners
PRE-ACTIVATIONS |
MEDIA COCKTAIL |
EXHIBITION |
CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY DINNER |
naamsa ACCELERATOR AWARDS |
SOCIAL MEDIA |
GUEST RELATIONS |
NEWS CLIPS |
Anchor Partners
SA Auto Week Indaba
Presidential Stage
Headline keynotes and debates featured “Setting the Scene: The Year That Was” and “Salient Ingredients to Attract New Investment.” High production values ensured seamless AV across sessions.
Over the course of the programme, eleven panel discussions and nine keynote addresses and presentations were hosted, culminating in a formal Report Backs and Conference Resolutions presented by the naamsa EXCO team.
Innovation Stage
Focused on in-depth expert presentations and the TransUnion Summit, highlighting mobility inclusion, global trade tensions and battery-value-chain strategies.
Over the course of the programme, eight panel discussions and six keynote addresses and presentations were hosted.
naamsa Ninety Stage
The naamsa Ninety stage hosted targeted discussions aimed at fostering industry growth and inclusivity with Youth empowerment conversations which provided a platform for emerging talent.
Black Industrialists and SMME development highlighted opportunities for enterprise growth, localisation, and transformation within South Africa’s automotive sector. These sessions facilitated meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing, and strategic insights to support the development of a more inclusive and competitive industry.
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 trends are driving transformation across the industry.
Premiers Breakfast
The Premier’s Breakfast officially opened South African Auto Week 2025, held on 1 October 2025 in Gqeberha. This exclusive, high-level event brought together senior government officials and industry leaders, including the Acting Premier, the MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and CEOs from leading automotive companies.
The engagement reinforced collaboration between government and industry, setting the tone for three days of dialogue on innovation, sustainable growth, and inclusive development in Africa’s automotive sector.
NEV Road Trip
Escaping The Noise 2.0
This year, 50 participants drove 20 new energy vehicles 4000km across South Africa, as a lead-up to the naamsa | The Automotive Business Council SA Auto Week 2025 in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Three convoys departed on Friday from Johannesburg, Durban and East London, converged in Colesberg, and then made their way down to Port Alfred before finally arriving in Gqeberha on Sunday.
As South Africa continues its transition to new energy vehicle drivetrains, the delegation showcased a range of hybrid EVs, plug-in hybrid EVs and battery EVs across 9 automotive manufacturers, simultaneously demonstrating South Africa’s charging infrastructure capabilities and readiness.
#NEVRoadtrip, #SAAW2025 and #EscapingTheNoise
Escaping the Noise 2.0
Double the Distance. Double the Cars
Comprising Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and traditional hybrids (HEVs), This ambitious journey was designed to directly confront one of the biggest challenges to NEV adoption in South Africa – range anxiety. By demonstrating the vehicles’ ability to handle long distances and diverse terrains, the trip aimed to build consumer confidence and show that a future with electric mobility is within reach.
Headline Partners
Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Mobility Partners
Hosting Partners
