At the end of April 2026, a week long study tour to China marked an important moment of reflection, learning, and strategic alignment for South Africa’s automotive sector. The mission commenced over the weekend of 28 April and brought together a diverse multistakeholder delegation led by naamsa under the interim leadership of Shinny GOBIYEZA.
From the outset, the engagement was shaped by a high level meeting with key industry leaders in China, including Zhang GUIBIN, President of Chery International President of AiMOGA Robotics and Tony LIU, CEO of Chery South Africa. The discussions set a collaborative tone and highlighted the shared importance of adapting to a rapidly changing global automotive landscape.
The delegation brought together representatives from across South Africa’s automotive and industrial ecosystem. This included participation from national government through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition dtic, supported by the Industrial Development Corporation IDC. Provincial government representation from Gauteng and the Eastern Cape was also included, alongside industry partners such as the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers NAACAM.
This broad participation reflected a coordinated approach to strengthening South Africa’s automotive sector by linking policy, financing, manufacturing, and industrial development into a shared direction. The study tour was structured as an active engagement rather than a passive visit, with a focus on exchange, benchmarking, and practical learning.
China’s position as a global leader in automotive manufacturing and new energy vehicles provided an important context for the visit. The delegation engaged with leading organizations and innovation environments to better understand advanced manufacturing systems, localization strategies, and the development of competitive value chains in an electrified mobility future.
The focus throughout the week remained aligned with the South African Automotive Masterplan 2035, particularly in relation to industrialization, skills development, and technology adoption that can support long term sector growth and resilience.
The study tour reinforced a clear message that progress in the automotive sector depends on turning insight into practical outcomes. As South Africa continues to respond to global shifts in mobility, such engagements support stronger alignment between strategy, industry capability, and international collaboration.
