Africa Automotive: All go for IATF 2025 with eyes on Auto Sector

With the ‘go’ button having been pressed on the Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 taking place in Algiers, Algeria in September next year, the countdown has begun towards an event expected to result in trade an investment deals exceeding US$44-billion.

Although only a sub-set of the entire IATF event, the Africa Automotive Show will play a large – and significant – part in the proceeedings given the intense activity in the automotive sector taking place throughout Africa that, together with full acceptance and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Are (AfCTA) is helping to turn the continent into one large automotive hub.

Some 35000 attendees from more than 140 nations are expected to gather in Algiers for the Intra-African Trade IATF2025 and the week-long exhibition will feature 2 000 exhibitors from Africa and around the globe, showcasing goods and services to potential buyers and industry professionals.

Organised by the Government of Algeria under the theme ‘Gateway to New Opportunities’, the event will leverage the AfCFTA, which comprises around 1,4-billion people and a combined GDP of more than US$3,5-trillion. The biennial fair is run by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union and AfCFTA Secretariat.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chair of the IATF Advisory Council and former Nigerian president, highlighted the fair’s impact: “The IATF has become a vital platform for fostering intra-African trade and investment by facilitating business interactions and providing access to trade and market information. With more than 70 000 visitors and more than 4 500 exhibitors at the last three editions, the fair has contributed $100-billion in trade deals. We encourage African businesses to seize this opportunity to expand their markets and engage with peers."

The event will host numerous key activities, including a trade exhibition, the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, featuring exhibitions and summits on African fashion, film, music, literature, sport, and more.

An example of the burgeoning automotive activity is the recent announcement by Stellantis to expand its Middle East and Africa (MEA) footprint by launching the locally assembled Jeep Grand Cherokee L in Egypt. This milestone, achieved at the Arab American Vehicles (AAV) plant in Cairo, is a pivotal part of the automaker’s ‘Dare Forward 2030’ strategy.

“This marks a crucial moment for Stellantis in Egypt,” said Samir Cherfan, Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis MEA. “By restarting production at AAV, we are reaffirming our commitment to Egypt's industrial growth and aiming to solidify our leadership in the region. Our goal is to capture over 22% of the market by 2030.”

Cherfan revealed Stellantis’ ambitions to become the top player in the region, selling 1-million vehicles annually by 2030, with 35% of those being electric. The plan also includes achieving 90% local production autonomy, reinforcing the company’s position as the most regionally integrated automotive manufacturer.

The local assembly of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L not only supports Stellantis' vision but also highlights Egypt’s strategic role within its wider operations. This move strengthens the company’s ability to serve markets across the MEA, boosting local job creation and skills development.

While the Egyptian production will be for left-hand drive markets, Stellantis South Africa notes it is not inconceivable this could expand to right-hand drive markets particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Hesham Hosni, Managing Director of Stellantis Egypt, noted: “Our long-standing partnership with the AAV plant is key to our success here. This relaunch reflects our confidence in Egyptian expertise and infrastructure."

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By George, she's a beauty

All roads will be leading to the Eastern Cape town of George for the George Old Car Show taking place at the Eden Technical High School from February 10 and the two-day event  has so far drawn entries from as far afield as Thabazimbi in Limpopo Province, Upington in the Northern Cape, Gauteng, the Free State, and even two entries from Windhoek in Namibia!

The line-up of cars will showcase a sweep of time in South African motoring history that dates back more than 100 years, to modern cars that have already achieved 'instant classic’ status and, from Alfa Romeos to Zephyrs, they will all be there.

The main show day for 2024 will be on Saturday, February 10, while the Sunday has been designated a ‘Family Day’ with entertainment provided by the International Oompah Band to add a German feel to the proceedings, as this year’s show has been given a special German theme.

Traditionally there are no shortages of German-built machinery at the George Old Car Show and once again there have been strong entries featuring Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, DKW and Borgward machinery.

Support from Car Clubs has also been impressive. There are notable entries from the likes of the MG Car Club, the Kombi Owners Club in the Western Cape, the Rover Motorcycle Club in Hogsback in the Eastern Cape, as well as the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa and a massive entry from the Concept Crew Car Club from the Despatch area in the Eastern Cape. A contingent of 10 cars from the Morris Minor Owners Club will be travelling to the show from the Cape Town area.

“The drive-by component of the George Old Car Show is an on-going highlight of the event and makes our show stand out as something completely different,” says Waldo Scribante, Chairman of the Southern Cape Old Car Club. “It enables show goers to find a comfortable seat and experience all the cars as they drive by in groups on the main show field.”

Looking for something not quite so old....click here

An interesting entry this year is from Wessie van der Westhuizen from Thabazimbi in the Limpopo Province. In 2019 he saw a genuine 1904 De Dion-Bouton at the George Old Car Show, owned by Tom van der Vyver. Working only from photographs, Wessie has since created a replica of the De Dion, and he will be showing this car in George this year.

At the other end of the motorised spectrum, interesting entries from the Eastern Cape recall an era that was pivotal to many of today’s older petrol-heads. Growing up in the 1960s and ‘70s, many enthusiasts enjoyed their first motorised experiences aboard 50 cc motorcycles, or buzz-bikes, as they were called then. Driver’s licenses for 50 cc bikes were available to 16-year olds, and high school parking grounds were awash with these rip-roaring machines.

This year in George, a number of 50 cc machines will be shown representing the crème-de-la-crème of the buzz bike brigade. From Gqeberha comes a collection of Zundapp and Kreidler 50 cc bikes that were the toast of the town in the early 1970s. And in the early 1960s, the hot tickets were the Italian bikes from Garelli and Maserati (a sister company to the famous sports car maker). These mini-Italian stallions will be travelling to George from Port Alfred.

A number of classic motorcycles have also been entered, including the likes of Ariel, Douglas, Norton, Velocette and Francis-Barnett. And topping off the two wheeled brigade will be a strong entry of Vespas from the George area!

Mercedes-Benz will have a massive representation at George Old Car Show 2024, headlined by no less than eight original 300SL machines, the all-time classics sports cars built between 1954 and 1963. The Mercedes-Benz Car Club stand will have iconic examples of these famous German machines harking back to 1913, whilst including examples of modern Mercs, such as the SLS Gullwing and AMG GT supercars.

BMW, too, will be well represented, by some unusual examples of the Bavarian marque, including a Bauer Cabriolet version of the 323 model from the 1980s, a highly desirable 325iS ‘Shadowline’ from the 1990s and more modern examples of M3 and M5 performance sedans.

British sports cars ruled the roost in the early 1950s through to the early 1970s, and there will be a massive turn-out of MGs, ranging back to the late 1940s TC examples to the more modern MGs from a decade or so ago. At least one example of the famous MGA Twin Cam model will be on display, as well as many variants of the famous MGB, which sold here in great numbers in the 1960s and 1970s. Other classic British makes, such as Austin Healey, Triumph and Morgan will also be on show.

American makes from the likes of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler will also be represented through many eras, including those of the Fabulous Fins decade from the 1950s.

Tickets are now available through iTickets. Log on to the iTickets website using this link: https://itickets.co.za/events/475607

Colin Windell

proudly CHANGECARS

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