Africa's Automotive Engine Roars Ahead of Automation Indaba 2026
Global South EXPOHUB AI Analytics · 2026-05-12
Africa's automotive market is set to grow from USD 22.6 billion in 2026 to USD 28.9 billion by 2031, with Morocco (47.2%) and South Africa (43.7%) producing over 90% of the continent's vehicles in 2025. South Africa, host of Africa Automation Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, remains the continent's industrial anchor. Seven OEMs — Toyota, VW, BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Isuzu — drove record exports of 414,268 units in 2025. The sector contributes 5.3% of GDP and 22.6% of manufacturing output, supporting 115,000 direct jobs. The new AfCFTA Rules of Origin require 40% African content for trade benefits, with the potential to unlock 3.5–5 million vehicles in annual continental production. Key trends: electrification, smart factory adoption, Chinese OEM entries (Chery, Foton, BAIC), and the SAAM 2035 master plan targeting 1.4 million units — positioning automation as the decisive lever for competitiveness.
Context event: Africa Automation Technology Expo