Absa joins industry leaders at South African Auto Week 2026 to advance conversations on growth, investment and competitiveness.
South Africa’s automotive industry is undergoing significant change as manufacturers navigate increased global competition, evolving consumer expectations and the transition to new vehicle technologies, while the sector seeks new opportunities for investment, localisation and growth.
For Absa, being the Bank of the Automotive Industry means taking an ecosystem view of these changes. By bringing together capabilities across the bank and connecting businesses, industry participants and opportunities across the value chain, Absa is supporting the investment, growth and collaboration needed to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and long-term sustainability of South Africa’s automotive industry.
Against this backdrop, industry leaders from government, manufacturing, finance and the broader mobility ecosystem will gather in Durban from 13 to 16 October for South African Auto Week (SAAW) 2026, hosted by naamsa | The Automotive Business Council. As one of Africa’s leading automotive business platforms, SAAW provides an opportunity for stakeholders to engage on the opportunities and challenges shaping the sector’s future.
Absa will participate as an anchor sponsor and partner of South African Auto Week, reinforcing the bank's longstanding involvement across the automotive value chain, from supporting vehicle ownership and dealership growth through to enabling investment, trade and industry development. The partnership includes support for the Captains of Industry Gala Dinner, one of the week's flagship gatherings, where leaders from business, government and industry will come together to discuss the future direction of South Africa's automotive sector.
"The automotive industry has always been one of South Africa's strongest examples of what can be achieved when manufacturers, government, financiers and suppliers work towards a common goal," said Charl Potgieter, Managing Executive: Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance. "In the environment we're operating in today, those partnerships are becoming even more important. The questions facing the industry are complex. How do we attract investment? How do we remain globally competitive? How do we prepare for new technologies while continuing to create jobs, support localisation and drive economic growth? These are conversations the industry needs to have."
The automotive sector remains an important contributor to South Africa's industrial economy, supporting manufacturing capability, exports, employment and skills development. As regional value chains continue to strengthen and trade opportunities expand across the continent, the industry is also expected to play an increasingly significant role in Africa's economic future.
For Absa, South African Auto Week forms part of a broader commitment to the automotive industry and the businesses that support it. Across the sector, the bank works with manufacturers, dealerships, suppliers and customers, supporting everything from vehicle finance and dealer growth to investment, trade and industry development. The bank has also expanded partnerships that support affordability, innovation and the transition towards new mobility solutions.
"At Absa, we believe our role extends beyond finance," said Potgieter. "We see ourselves as part of a broader ecosystem working to support sustainable industry growth. Whether that's helping businesses invest, supporting customers, enabling trade opportunities or strengthening partnerships across the value chain, our focus is on helping the industry unlock its potential and remain competitive in a rapidly changing environment by being a connecting force."
Potgieter added that South African Auto Week arrives at a particularly important time for the sector.
"South Africa's automotive industry has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to adapt, innovate and compete on a global stage. The question is how we continue to build on that foundation. The future of the industry will not be determined by any single manufacturer, policymaker or financier. It will be shaped by how effectively we work together. That's why the conversations taking place at South African Auto Week matter," Potgieter said.