Despite economic challenges, South Africa’s automotive sector is booming.
With annual sales now exceeding half a million units, it’s clear that South Africans have found some interest in the market once more. The arrival of affordable Chinese and Indian brands has surely played a role, giving dealers more freedom in what to sell their customers. But which brands, local and international, fit your business best?
Enter DealerCon, the top automotive retail trade event in South Africa, designed to keep dealers in the loop! Here’s the info about it you need to know.
When And Where Is Dealercon?
DealerCON returns in 2026 and will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. It will be held only on 17 September (a Thursday), so don’t miss out!
Note that the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD) takes place during the same week, so traffic could be a problem for those travelling south to Dealercon from Centurion/Pretoria.
What Is Dealercon All About?
DealerCon is a new trade show for South Africa’s automotive retail sector. It’s an all-in-one event for the dealers, brands, and notable auto leaders that drive the South African automotive retail sector forward. Expect plenty of industry news and data-driven actionable insights!
The event is organised by popular online automotive dealer marketplace cars.co.za.
What Can You Expect From Dealercon?
As an automotive dealer, you can expect to have a busy day out in Sandton. DealerCon attracts major decision makers in South Africa’s automotive landscape, from major brand executives to dealer principals (the highest-ranked executive owners of fellow car dealerships).
Some important attendees present at DealerCon 2025 include
- Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa (The Automotive Business Council)
- Henry Botha, vehicle and asset finance executive at ABSA.
- Amasi Mwela, CEO of cars.co.za.
Altogether, over 1 500 industry leaders are expected to attend Dealercon 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The Rise Of Chinese And Indian Cars In South Africa
South Africa’s automotive sector has long been dominated by German, Japanese, and American brands. Volkswagen and Toyota are the traditional giants, with local manufacturing facilities and large market segments under their control.
All this is now changing.
Chinese and Indian brands Chery and Tata Motors were the first from their respective countries to enter South Africa’s mainstream automotive market, doing so back in the 2000s. Neither made a fantastic start, with their offerings being characterised as too cheap. Both left the South African market in the first half of the 2010s, with many speculating whether they would ever return.
Now, more than a decade later, the market has been turned upside down. Chinese giant GWM got off to a flying start back in 2017 with its range of affordable SUVs sold under the Haval brand. Chery also returned in 2021, bringing with it two popular brands: Omoda and Jaecoo. GWM, meanwhile, has brought in more brands in the form of Ora and Tank. Now, newer Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have also arrived, including BYD.
Chery even took over Nissan’s local Rosslyn manufacturing plant in 2026, while Geely returned to Mzansi in 2025.
On the Indian side, longstanding commercial truck manufacturer Mahindra has started marketing its own lineup of passenger SUVs and crossovers. Tata Motors, once underestimated, has returned as of 2026. Lastly, a large chunk of both Hyundai and Suzuki South Africa’s vehicle offerings are assembled in India and imported into South Africa.
As far as recent sales are concerned, GWM posted the strongest local new car sales growth in 2025, beating out established brands like Toyota, Volkswagen, and Ford.
Sustainable Car Choices At DealerCon
While affordability remains a top priority, sustainability remains a key concern for younger first-time car buyers. DealerCon may just be your next opportunity to learn how to embrace the sustainable vehicle market as a dealer, especially with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs).
Chinese and some European brands continue to lead the way with EV rollout in South Africa. Think of recent releases from the BMW i7 to the GWM Ora, BYD Dolphin Surf, and Geely E5. Hybrid options like the new BYD Shark bakkie are also gaining popularity, and dealers can learn more about sustainable vehicle popularity amongst different consumer types at DealerCon.
Mark Your Mark At Dealercon
All this is to say that the future of the automotive market is bright in South Africa, so don’t miss out as consumers take advantage of these new and affordable car brands! DealerCon is just the place to be to learn more about these new market trends as a South African car dealer, so start planning your participation today.
Need a custom exhibition stand to help you stand out at DealerCon 2026? At Booth Exhibits™, we have just the skillset you need; we’re a stand builder in South Africa with rapid turnaround times and an in-house stand design team. We can’t wait to hear from you!
