“SA AUTO WEEK 2024 WILL CELEBRATE 100-YEARS OF AUTOMOTIVE HERITAGE, PASSION, RESILIENCE AND INGENUITY”
In the heart of Cape Town, where mountains kiss the African sky and the two oceans whisper secrets, a new dawn breaks for South Africa’s automotive heritage. As the sun rises on October 15th, the Cape Town International Convention Centre [CTICC] will hum with the echoes of a century of innovation, resilience, and passion. The SA Auto Week 2024 is not just an event; it is a journey through time, where the roads of the past meet the highways of the future.
With 50 days to the grand opening of the SA Auto Week 2024, the stage is set for Africa’s most significant automotive celebration. Under the banner, “REIMAGINING THE FUTURE, TOGETHER: Celebrating Automotive Heritage, Passion, Resilience, and Ingenuity”, we gather to honour the pioneers and dreamers who shaped this dynamic sector. Across the globe, a distinguished group of nations has celebrated over 100-years of vehicle manufacturing, cementing their status as pioneers of the automotive world. The United States of America, Germany, Japan, and Italy are among these trailblazers, each contributing unique innovations that have shaped the industry.
As South Africa approaches this prestigious milestone, joining the centennial club, it stands as a testament to the nation’s resilience, ingenuity, and growing influence in the global automotive landscape. Celebrating 100 years of automotive manufacturing, South Africa not only honours its rich heritage but also aligns itself with these global leaders, showcasing its own contributions to innovation, quality, and industry growth. This centennial celebration is more than a historic mark, it is a declaration that South Africa has earned its place among the world’s automotive pioneers, driving forward with the same spirit of excellence and innovation.
“As we stand on the cusp of this monumental week, we invite auto professionals, global vehicle OEMs, component manufacturers, suppliers, policymakers, regulators, investors, journalists, black industrialists working in the sector, and business leaders from across the African continent to join us in this once in a lifetime celebration”, said Mikel Mabasa, naamsa CEO.
Mabasa said that “the SA Auto Week 2024 is more than a gathering - it is a convergence of minds and ideas, a place where the old meets the new, where yesterday’s dreams fuel tomorrow’s thoughts and innovations. In its third instalment this year, the SA Auto Week will be held from 15 - 18 October at the CTICC. This event has become an indispensable platform that provides delegates with exclusive access to the latest industry insights, trends, innovation, and policy developments shaping the automotive industry in South Africa and across the African continent. Participants will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of market dynamics, challenges, and opportunities, allowing them to stay ahead in an ever growing and evolving auto sector”.
“This premium event also presents a prime opportunity for businesses seeking capital to fund their projects. Whether looking for venture capital, partnerships, or project financing, participants can connect with investors, venture capitalists, private equity firms, strategic corporate investors, and fund managers who are actively looking for bankable and scalable opportunities within the automotive industry. This is also a unique and rare platform where the majority of industry CEOs and other senior business leaders from all our OEM brands will be congregated and engage in B2B meetings and networking sessions”, Mabasa said.
In the spirit of October’s Transport Month, the SA Auto Week 2024 stands as a pillar of progress, a space where ideas flow as freely as the winds of the Atlantic. Here, meaningful conversations will shape the future, where innovation and technology take centre stage, and where government policies and global best practices intertwine to drive the industry and the South African economy forward.
“South Africa and her people should be proud of what the automotive industry has achieved in 100-years. Let us come together in celebration of this centenary, honour the road we’ve travelled, embrace the road we are on today, and reimagine the road yet to be voyaged in the future. The SA Auto Week 2024 is part of that important journey, a journey we take together, in motion, towards a future as bright and diverse as the land we call home. Visit us at naamsa.co.za and secure your delegate tickets to join us in the celebration”, Mabasa concluded.