Electric vehicles (EVs) rapidly transform the global automotive landscape, offering a greener and more sustainable future. I had the honour of hosting a panel discussion with some of the leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in South Africa at the Smarter Mobility Africa Summit event. In this insightful conversation, we delved into the critical aspect of [...]
I had the exclusive opportunity to visit Volkswagen's Kariega assembly plant in South Africa in 2023. During my visit, I sat down with Ulrich Schwabe, Director of Production at the plant, to delve into the rich history and technological advancements that have shaped this automotive powerhouse. Unveiling Decades of Heritage What is the history of [...]
Embarking on a journey into the beating heart of Volkswagen's automotive excellence was more than just a tour; it was an immersive experience unravelling the magic behind the iconic brand. Stepping onto the floors of the VW plant in Kariega was like entering a realm of innovation, and getting an exclusive interview with none other [...]
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Colin Kgari from Kaya FM to discuss the intriguing insights uncovered in the AutoTrader and Smarter Mobility 2023 EV Buyers survey. The South African automotive industry is on the brink of a transformative shift, with electric vehicles (EVs) taking centre stage. In a recent survey conducted [...]
As the Chair of Volkswagen South Africa, Martina tells us that she is constantly reminded that leadership is more than just managing day-to-day operations. The decisions we make as leaders have a ripple effect that extends beyond direct reports and impacts the families of employees and suppliers. In a multicultural environment, understanding and navigating cultural [...]
As the world is rapidly shifting towards electric vehicles (EVs), Volkswagen (VW) is leading the charge to bring this revolution to South Africa. In a recent conversation with Martina Biene CEO of Volkswagen South Africa, we discussed the company's plans to introduce EVs in the country. Retooling existing plants for EVs One of the main [...]
Martina Biene's story of success is an inspiring one. Her journey from being a Theology graduate to the Head of Volkswagen's Passenger Car Brand in South Africa is an example of how perseverance and a commitment to learning can take one to great heights. Martina started her career at Volkswagen as a management trainee in [...]
Over the years I’ve come across car dealerships who believe that car sales occur on social media, is this true? Car buyers could buy cars on social media in some instances but I’m not convinced. What is social media? I believe there’s no such thing as social media – it’s a term that society has [...]
I had an interview on Newzroom Afrika with Stephen Grootes on how COVID-19 has impacted the automotive industry, particularly its effects on car buying trends in South Africa. South Africa is STILL buying cars One of the things that is evident in the data is that South African car buying consumers are STILL buying cars [...]
Gone are the days when consumers used to drive around from car dealership to car dealership looking for the best deal money can buy. Now car buying consumers do all of that at the click of a button via the internet. We need to acknowledge that car buying consumer behaviour has changed. Car buying is [...]
