WesBank, proud sponsor of the naamsa Accelerator Awards, congratulates all the deserving winners and finalists of the 2025 competition. The prestigious awards ceremony, held at the conclusion of SA Auto Week, celebrates the visionaries, innovators, and leaders who are actively shaping the future of South Africa’s automotive industry.
In his keynote address at the event, WesBank CEO Robert Gwerengwe emphasised the critical role of collaboration in driving the local automotive sector towards a sustainable future. He cited the longstanding partnership between naamsa and WesBank as an example of a collaborative effort that delivers tangible benefits to the entire industry.
Gwerengwe highlighted the need for wider cooperation across the automotive value chain, particularly in light of the stagnant economic growth that has challenged the sector since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While we have recently witnessed a recovery in passenger car sales, as reported by naamsa, this growth has largely been underpinned by interest rate cuts – a trend that is not permanent and will inevitably end,” said Gwerengwe.
“We must therefore build resilience into our business processes. This calls for innovation from all sectoral players in exploring and implementing new go-to-market models to cater for changing market conditions,” he continued.
He stressed that the necessary transformation, from a diversified product mix to innovative finance models, cannot be achieved by a single entity.
“This is not something that just one player can provide a solution for. We need all stakeholders, including government and industry players, to work together to raise South Africa into a continental giant in the automotive world. This is why we continue to sponsor the Accelerator Awards: to celebrate those who are taking bold steps to move the industry in this direction,” said Gwerengwe.
