South Africa is set to join the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025, taking place from the 4th to 10th of September in Algiers, Algeria. Positioning the SA Automotive Industry as a Global Economic PlayerPresident Cyril Ramaphosa recently emphasised Africa’s growing importance in global economic, political and environmental discussions at the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting on 20 February 2025. A Growing and Resilient Automotive IndustrySouth Africa’s automotive industry plays a key role in its economy, contributing approximately 4.9% to the national GDP and accounting for nearly 19% of its manufacturing output. The South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) sets an ambitious target of producing 1.4 million vehicles annually by 2035, aiming for 1% of global production. Overcoming Challenges and Uncovering Investment OpportunitiesOne critical challenge facing the African automotive sector is illegally imported second-hand vehicles.