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Record breaking #NADAConnect 2026 sets a roadmap for the evolution of the automotive retail sector
It’s always an exciting prospect to put together the Straight Talk section of the NADA Newsletter. But it’s an extra special privilege to address the NADA members this time, following the successful 2026 #NADAConnect conference, held on 12 March.
We were thrilled to welcome more than 600 delegates from across South Africa – a record-breaking turnout that more than doubled our previous year’s attendance.
Whether you were in the room on the day or caught up with the event highlights at a later stage, the message was clear: South African dealers are not just witnessing the evolution of the “dealership of the future”, they are keen to drive it locally. This year’s conference provided a vital roadmap for navigating a landscape being redefined by policy shifts, artificial intelligence, and new global standards of customer experience.
The conference opened with a presentation by Ipeleng Mabusela, CEO of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), who emphasised the critical role the retail and aftermarket sectors play in the broader economic landscape.
Mabusela’s address served as a clarion call to policymakers for better resource allocation, localisation incentives, and demand-side policy coherence to reflect the sector’s true economic weight.
The technological shift
Moving from policy to practice, the conference highlighted the technological tools essential for future-proofing dealerships. Dean Furman, CEO of 1064 Degrees, noted that while many South African companies claim to have embraced Artificial Intelligence (AI), most are merely “dabbling” rather than fully leveraging its power. He went on to demonstrate how AI can level the playing field for smaller dealerships.
Building on the momentum of innovation, Tony Liu, CEO of Chery Group SA, shared how the group is leveraging both physical expansion and cutting-edge robotics to redefine the customer experience. In what will be a first for the South African market, Liu announced that Chery aims to deploy in its local dealerships its bipedal robot that are designed to function as a dealership aid – answering questions, responding to instructions, and assisting customers in a natural and humanlike manner. This will really be interesting to see.
Providing a further real-world case study of this digital evolution, Wynand Beukes, Deputy CEO and Chief Digital Officer of WeBuyCars, shared the business’ journey of transforming from rudimentary IT systems in 2018 into the AI-powered juggernaut it is today, trading roughly 17,500 vehicles monthly. However, Beukes reassured delegates that AI is not a replacement for human staff, but a tool for augmentation, making people more efficient and effective in their roles.
Global context
The local insights shared at #NADAConnect closely mirrored global trends observed at the NADA Show 2026 in Las Vegas (detailed report provided in a dedicated section). Ashley Samuel, National Director of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), who recently returned from a Study Tour in the USA, shared notes from the study tour, which confirm that a rapid shift toward data-driven models is a worldwide phenomenon, accompanied by an equally seismic shift in the marketing landscape, spearheaded by influencer marketing.
The power of influence
A panel discussion at #NADAConnect, chaired by Philippa McCann-Davies and featuring leading South African influencers and content creators, confirmed this, highlighting how authentic storytelling through content creators can reach audiences at a fraction of the cost of conventional advertising.
The consensus was clear. To thrive in this new environment, dealers must prioritise Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), build trust through and reviews, and maintain an active, managed presence on the platforms where their customers spend their time.
Appealing to young people
This is in part what sparked one of the most interesting developments announced at this year’s NADA Connect – the launch of Motoring Mavericks, a NADA-powered movement dedicated to reshaping the image of our industry for the youth. By using social media platforms to showcase the diverse career paths available within modern dealerships, this initiative aims to attract the brightest young talent to our sector. Look out for the dedicated feature on Motoring Mavericks later in this newsletter for more details.
As we look toward the horizon of a more digital, data-driven industry, the success of #NADAConnect 2026 stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit of our community.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the speakers, the 600+ delegates who joined us on the day, as well as the exhibitors whose support was instrumental in making the event our most successful to date.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors. We extend our sincere thanks to Automate, Cars.co.za, Lightstone, Tracker, and WesBank for their valuable partnership. We truly appreciate your contribution and look forward to working together again at #NADAConnect 2027.
Presentations and Media Now Available
For those who wish to revisit the sessions or catch up on what you might have missed, we have made all speaker presentations, event videos, and image gallery available on the NADA website. We encourage all members to utilise these resources as you continue to future-proof your businesses.
View the #NADAConnect 2026 resources here: https://nada.co.za/home/dpp/annual-conference/
Best wishes
Brandon Cohen
Chairperson
NADA
NADA LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MEMBERS | PAIA ANNUAL RETURNS SUBMISSION WINDOW WILL OPEN ON 1 APRIL 2025
The submission window for the PAIA annual return will open on 1 April 2026.
This requirement applies to all public and private bodies, irrespective of whether any PAIA requests were received during the reporting period.
Purpose of the PAIA Annual Return
The PAIA annual return enables the Information Regulator to assess whether organisations:
- receive PAIA requests
- record requests accurately
- respond within prescribed PAIA timeframes
- receive internal appeals and the outcomes of those appeals
LAUNCHING THE GARY MCCRAW EXCELLENCE AWARD
The 2026 #NADAConnect Conference was a landmark event, not only for its record-breaking attendance but also for a deeply significant moment of industry recognition. Amidst discussions on AI and market evolution, the conference dedicated a special moment to honour one of the cornerstones of automotive retail sector by presenting the inaugural Excellence Award to retired NADA National Director, Gary McCraw.
In a moving tribute to his decades of service, it was announced that this accolade will officially be named The Gary McCraw Excellence Award. This decision ensures that Gary’s name remains a permanent benchmark and inspiration for the next generation of automotive leaders.
Four Decades of Dedication
McCraw’s career in the automotive retail and aftermarket sectors has spanned more than 40 years. He held the position of NADA National Director for 38 years, providing strategic vision through decades of industry transformation before handing the baton to his successor.
SA’S CONSUMER CREDIT MARKET SHIFTED FROM RECOVERY TO A MORE STABLE POSITION IN Q4 2025
TransUnion’s Q4 2025 South Africa Industry Insights Report shows the consumer credit market shifting from a tentative recovery to broader stabilisation driven by steady inflation and interest rates, as well as improvements in consumers’ repayment behaviour. During the quarter there was again notable growth in vehicle asset finance and the personal loans market, while retail credit saw a change in product preference with consumers making smaller purchases.
South Africa’s vehicle finance market continued its expansion in Q4 2025, with a fifth consecutive quarter of sustained growth. The growth in total loan balances continued to outpace new account volumes, indicating a firmer continued recovery in demand supported by a more accommodative interest rate environment following a 25 basis point (bps) repo rate cut in November, which further improved household affordability. Origination volumes rose 9.9% year-over-year (YoY).
NADA SHOW 2026 AND US DEALER STUDY TOUR REPORT
In February 2026, NADA SA sent a delegation, led by NADA National Director Ashley Samuel, to attend the NADA Show 2026 in Las Vegas, USA, and to conduct follow-on dealer and NADA USA engagements in Washington DC and Tysons Corner, Virginia.
Objectives
The primary purpose of the study tour was to deepen NADA South Africa’s strategic understanding of global automotive retail trends, strengthen institutional relationships with international dealer associations, and benchmark the operational and advocacy models of the United States dealer ecosystem.
Executive Summary
A central finding of the study tour is that the United States automotive retail sector remains one of the most mature and structured dealer environments globally. The franchised dealer model continues to dominate the market and is supported by strong institutional representation and robust state and federal franchise protections.
MOTORING MAVERICKS SHOWS YOUNG SOUTH AFRICANS A NEW WAY INTO THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
With youth unemployment remaining one of South Africa’s biggest challenges, the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) has launched Motoring Mavericks, a movement designed to show young people that car dealerships offer far more than sales or mechanical jobs.
Instead, modern dealerships are fast-moving business environments where young professionals can build careers in marketing, finance, digital systems, customer experience, business management and technical specialisations.
Many young South Africans don’t realise that today’s dealerships operate as full-scale businesses powered by technology, data, innovation and strong customer service. They need digitally savvy marketers, finance professionals, HR specialists, business managers and skilled technicians to keep operations running smoothly.
“As South Africa continues to battle high youth unemployment, we want to open young people’s eyes to the real career opportunities inside the automotive retail space,” says NADA Director Ashley Samuel.
To learn more, visit Motoring Mavericks or follow Motoring Mavericks on social media.
