Sun City served as the stage last week for UD Trucks Southern Africa’s annual get together of dealer principals, business leaders and key players from across Southern Africa and the rest of the continent. The Importer and Dealer Conference 2026 unfolded over two days under the theme ‘Own the Future’, and focused squarely on the company’s growth plans.
This gathering has long been a key date on the UD Trucks calendar, giving importers and dealers a chance to line up behind the company’s main priorities, build on partnerships, swap best practices and celebrate solid work across the business.
This year came with a notable shift. For the first time, the opening day was set aside entirely for Sub Saharan African markets, a move that underlined UD Trucks Southern Africa’s intention to push further into the continent and back its long term goals heading towards 2030.
Fabrice Gorlier, who looks after International Sales at UD Trucks as Senior Vice President, told those present just how important the dealer network is when it comes to lasting business success. He explained that as customer expectations shift and the transport industry changes, the dealer network continues to give the company a real edge.
By focusing on network excellence, building up skills, and growing their market reach, he said they are getting ready to make the most of the opportunities coming their way across the region.
Graham Kolm, General Manager for SSA Markets at UD Trucks Southern Africa, spoke about why the dedicated focus on Sub Saharan Africa mattered. He said setting aside a full day for those markets reflects just how important their business across the continent has become.
They see real opportunities ahead, he noted, and are committed to working closely with partners to strengthen market presence, develop skills, and unlock sustainable growth.
“Owning the future,” he added, “means putting in the work today on the relationships, know how, and foundations that will drive success tomorrow.”
The evening took on a more upbeat feel with an awards ceremony that recognised the region’s best performing dealerships. Motruck Eswatini walked away with the SSA Markets Medium Importer of the Year award, while Nors Namibia claimed the SSA Markets Importer of the Year title.
Day two kicked off with a Dealer Council meeting that brought in members of UD Trucks’ global executive leadership team, giving dealers a direct line to leadership on issues shaping both the company’s future and the wider transport industry. The business sessions that followed dug into market trends, customer needs, operational excellence, retail performance, and what lies ahead for the UD Trucks network.
Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa, reflected on what the conference meant. He said the annual importer and dealer conference remains a crucial platform for getting the network aligned around a shared vision, strengthening how they work together, and recognising those who consistently deliver quality work.
As the business keeps evolving and expanding across Southern Africa and the broader continent, he stressed that dealers are at the heart of their success. Their steady commitment to customers, products, and the brand, he added, allows UD Trucks to deliver on its promise of going the extra mile every day while putting the business in a good position for sustainable growth in the years ahead.
The conference wrapped up with the much anticipated 2026 Dealer Awards ceremony, where dealerships were recognised for their strong contributions and for delivering value to customers.
Among the main award winners were UD Trucks Lichtenburg as Service Dealer of the Year in the medium category, McCarthy Commercial Vehicles Alrode taking the large Service Dealer of the Year prize, UD Trucks Ermelo named Medium Dealer of the Year, and CMH Commercial Pinetown claiming Dealer of the Year.
The conference closed on a note of partnership, growth, and shared responsibility as the network looks to what comes next. Marle Visagie, General Manager for Retail and Competence Development at UD Trucks Southern Africa, wrapped things up by stressing how investing in people drives long term success. She said strong dealerships are built by strong people.
By continuously investing in competence development across their network, they equip their teams with the skills and confidence to support customers and keep up with a changing transport industry. That commitment, she explained, not only strengthens the customer experience but also boosts the long term value of putting money behind the UD Trucks brand.
As UD Trucks Southern Africa pushes forward with its growth ambitions across the region and the continent, ADC 2026 showed the strength of its dealer network and the shared commitment needed to own the future together.https://bit.ly/4xg0tlt
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