The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) has announced its newly elected office bearers and Advisory Board for the 2026 to 2028 term, marking a new chapter in the association’s efforts to advance automotive industrialisation and sustainable mobility across Africa.

Tarek Mosaad, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Motor Middle East and Africa, has been elected President of AAAM. He succeeds Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa, who led the association during the previous term.

Mosaad will be supported by five vice-presidents representing Africa’s key automotive regions and the component-manufacturing sector.

The 2026–2028 office bearers

The new leadership assumes responsibility at an important time for Africa’s automotive industry, as governments and private-sector stakeholders increasingly focus on translating continental policy commitments into investment, manufacturing capacity, regional value chains and employment.

AAAM Chief Executive Officer Victoria Backhaus-Jerling congratulated the incoming office bearers and expressed confidence that their collective experience would strengthen the association’s work across the continent.

Backhaus-Jerling said AAAM’s priority remains to support coherent automotive policies, deepen localisation, attract investment and strengthen regional production and trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She said effective collaboration across Africa’s regions would be essential if the continent is to establish a globally competitive and sustainable automotive industry.

From policy to implementation

Mosaad said he was honoured to take on the role and looked forward to working with AAAM members and partners to advance the continent’s automotive ambitions.

Mosaad said he intends to build on the foundation established by the outgoing leadership while supporting AAAM’s work to expand vehicle production, strengthen regional value chains and improve access to affordable and sustainable mobility across the continent.

Reflecting on her term as AAAM President, Biene thanked the association’s members, partners and secretariat for their support and reaffirmed her commitment to AAAM through her new role as Immediate Past President.

Biene said the association had strengthened its position as a voice for Africa’s automotive industry by bringing together OEMs, component manufacturers, governments, continental institutions and other stakeholders around a shared vision for sustainable industrial growth, job creation and economic development.

The Advisory Board is intended to retain institutional knowledge while broadening the regional perspectives informing AAAM’s strategic direction.

The incoming leadership will continue to support AAAM’s objective of developing an integrated African automotive ecosystem. This includes working with national governments, continental institutions and the private sector to advance enabling policy frameworks, increase localisation, develop skills, mobilise investment and strengthen cross-border automotive value chains.

AAAM will also continue advocating for an inclusive transition towards new-energy vehicles and emerging mobility solutions that supports Africa’s industrial development priorities while expanding access to affordable mobility.