By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
    Auto ShowsShow More
    Lotus Returns To Goodwood Festival Of Speed With A Bold Celebration Of Its Past, Present And Future
    July 10, 2025
    Alpine celebrates its 70th anniversary with world and UK debuts at Goodwood
    July 10, 2025
    Maserati MCPURA: the essence of performance debuts at Goodwood
    July 10, 2025
    IAA MOBILITY 2025 Announces Powerful Lineup of Partners and Sponsors
    June 26, 2025
    BMW and Alvaro Barrington celebrate hydrogen mobility at Art Basel in Basel 2025
    June 18, 2025
  • Bikes
    BikesShow More
    BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW CE 04
    July 3, 2025
    Desmo450 MX: Production of the first Ducati Motocross bike begins
    May 28, 2025
    25YM Honda NC750X
    May 13, 2025
    BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW R 1300 RS
    May 2, 2025
    BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW R 1300 RT
    April 30, 2025
  • News
    NewsShow More
    JETOUR SOUTH AFRICA AWARDED GOLD STATUS IN 2025 NADA DSI SURVEY
    July 15, 2025
    The new Taycan and Cayenne Black Edition models
    July 11, 2025
    INEOS GRENADIER UPS ITS GAME WITH PORTAL AXLE COLLABORATION
    July 11, 2025
    How the BMW Group is gearing up for series production of its new high-voltage batteries
    July 10, 2025
    Bentley opens its largest ever presence at Goodwood Festival of Speed, with UK debut of new Bentayga Speed
    July 10, 2025
  • Concepts
    ConceptsShow More
    Mercedes-AMG presents the CONCEPT AMG GT XX
    June 25, 2025
    TOYOTA GAZOO Racing unveils liquid hydrogen-fueled “GR LH2 Racing Concept” at Le Mans
    June 11, 2025
    FIAT unveils the manifesto Grande Panda 4×4
    May 20, 2025
    Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept makes its global debut at Roland-Garros 2025
    May 16, 2025
    Hyundai Motor and Plus Unveil Concept for Autonomous Hydrogen Freight Ecosystem at ACT Expo 202
    May 2, 2025
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    24-hour race at Le Mans, the Nürburgring and Spa – triple marathon for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
    June 10, 2025
    Kosmas “Dudie” Mamaloukos – The Formidable Racing Talent
    May 15, 2025
    Hi-Range Safari City
    Hi-Range Safari City – The Premier outfitter for 4×4 customization
    May 15, 2025
    BEHIND THE SCENES: ARCHIE RUTHERFORD ON WHAT IT TAKES TO BRING THE W2RC TO SOUTH AFRICA
    May 9, 2025
    Europe and China’s automotive future in a shifting global order
    May 5, 2025
  • EVs
    EVsShow More
    The Kia EV5: an authentic SUV powering Kia’s electrification vision
    July 8, 2025
    Polestar 4 wins the 2025 Mille Miglia Green
    June 27, 2025
    IONIQ 5 N Earns Coveted ‘Five-Star Car’ Accolade at 2025 Autocar Awards
    June 26, 2025
    Polestar 3 OTA update introduces new Abbey Road Studios Mode exclusively for Bowers & Wilkins audio system
    June 18, 2025
    No Compromise Ford Ranger PHEV Brings Electric Power to Europe’s Best-Selling Pickup
    June 18, 2025
  • Motosport
    MotosportShow More
    Lamborghini claims first IMSA GTD victory of the year at Mosport
    July 15, 2025
    HINO ALREADY PREPARING FOR 2026 DAKAR RALLY
    July 11, 2025
    Ducati team returns to the track at Donington for the seventh round of the 2025 WorldSBK season
    July 10, 2025
    Nissan Formula E Team heads to Berlin for penultimate race weekend of Season 11
    July 10, 2025
    A legend returns to Le Mans: Škoda Sport back on the famous circuit after 75 years
    July 8, 2025
  • Trucks & Buses
    Trucks & BusesShow More
    Daimler Truck Global Parts Center officially opened
    July 10, 2025
    MAN celebrates 70 years of tradition and modernity at its Munich plant
    July 3, 2025
    Tata Motors strengthens presence in Qatar with the launch of all-new LPO 1622 bus
    June 26, 2025
    Scania launches MCS rapid charging solution at EVS38
    June 18, 2025
    Daimler Truck and Volvo Group launch Coretura
    June 17, 2025
  • Reviews
    ReviewsShow More
    THE NEW FERRARI AMALFI
    July 9, 2025
    Ferrari 296 Speciale: driving thrills reach new heights
    July 9, 2025
    Introducing the Land Cruiser Hybrid 48V: a new powertrain for Toyota’s legendary SUV
    June 23, 2025
    THE NEW HAVAL H6 SUV IS HERE, AND IT’S BUILT FOR BIG MOMENTS!
    June 18, 2025
    THE NEW PEUGEOT E-208 GTi MORE PLEASURE. MORE GTi THAN EVER!
    June 17, 2025
  • Tech
    TechShow More
    Gaming fun on the go: Audi integrates AirConsole
    June 26, 2025
    New Kia App provides European drivers with a unified digital experience
    June 17, 2025
    Abbey Road Studios Mode makes global debut in Volvo EX90
    June 17, 2025
    Audi develops the picking process of the future
    June 2, 2025
    Volvo EX90 LiDAR and smartphone cameras: What you need to know
    June 2, 2025
Hot News
JETOUR SOUTH AFRICA AWARDED GOLD STATUS IN 2025 NADA DSI SURVEY
Lamborghini claims first IMSA GTD victory of the year at Mosport
HINO ALREADY PREPARING FOR 2026 DAKAR RALLY
The new Taycan and Cayenne Black Edition models
INEOS GRENADIER UPS ITS GAME WITH PORTAL AXLE COLLABORATION
Electric Vehicles

Polestar 4 is a new breed of SUV coupé

Auto ShowsLatest News

Maserati celebrates the V8 engine at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023

Latest News

Stellantis Announces Leadership Change for Jeep® Brand in Europe

Motosport

VARIAWA CLAIMS P2 AS TGRSA OPENS 2025 SARRC CAMPAIGN

Font ResizerAa
The Auto MagazineThe Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • Interviews
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Search
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • Interviews
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Follow US
Crafted by Intellegere Media. © 2024 The Auto Magazine. All rights reserved.
Latest News

African Association of Automotive Manufacturers has a new President

Itumeleng Garebatshabe
Last updated: October 24, 2023 10:21
By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
769 Views
4 Min Read
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Martina Biene, Volkswagen Group South Africa’s (VWSA) Chairperson and Managing Director takes over as President of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) from Mike Whitfield who has been President since July 2020. Mike will remain on the Executive of AAAM as the Immediate Past President.

The AAAM was established in November 2015 with Jeff Nemeth from Ford as the first President and Mike Whitfield as the Vice President. It is the only African body focusing on the expansion and deepening of the automotive industry across the continent, by working with governments to shape policies that will attract investors to unlock the economic potential of the continent and align a global network of stakeholders, committed to the development of the Automotive industry in Africa.

- Advertisement -
Ad image

During Mike’s tenure at AAAM, a Continental Automotive Strategy and Implementation Plan was developed in conjunction with the AfCFTA Secretariat, Africa Union (AU), UNECA, Afreximbank and ARSO and this was adopted as a living document by the AfCFTA Council of Ministers at a meeting in Botswana in February 2023. An AfCFTA Automotive Task Force has been formed to oversee, guide and implement this Strategy under the supervision of the Council of Ministers with the immediate priority to resolve the Rules of Origin.

AAAM’s role and importance in developing the automotive industry has also been recognised by the private sector which has resulted in AAAM’s membership growing from some 17 members in 2020 to the current 63 members.

Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of VWSA, who is also responsible for the Africa Region, has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry having joined Volkswagen in 2001 where she held multiple roles in the company in Sales, Marketing, Product Planning and Product Marketing for Luxury Vehicles and the Volkswagen Brand in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and South Africa.

In 2018 she was appointed as the head of the Volkswagen Brand in South Africa whereafter she returned to Germany in 2020 to take up the position of Head of Small and Compact Vehicle line up, returning to South Africa in November 2022 to take up her current position.

“I became passionate about Africa after completing an internship in Cape Town before joining Volkswagen in Germany. My career has allowed me to return to Africa to help with the industrialisation of Africa through the automotive industry which will help to create opportunities and sustainable jobs. I am thankful for the work that Mike and the AAAM team have done to date and I am humbled to be able to play a key role through AAAM to grow the automotive manufacturing industry from the 1.1 million vehicles a year today to some 3.5 million or even 5 million by 2035.” said Biene after being voted into her new position by the voting the members of AAAM.

The Executive of AAAM is as follows:

PresidentMartina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of VWSA
Past PresidentMike Whitfield, Managing Director Stellantis South Africa
Vice PresidentAndrew Kirby,  President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors
Vice PresidentMarkus Thill,  President Region Africa, Robert Bosch
Vice PresidentJeffrey Oppong Peprah, CEO of Volkswagen Ghana
Vice PresidentDr Ahmed Fikry, Managing Director for East Port Said for Main Development Co. (EP) and Managing Director for Egyptian German Automotive Co. (EGA)
Chief Executive OfficerDave Coffey

TAGGED:AAAMAfCFTA Automotive Task ForceAfrican Association of Automotive ManufacturersMartina BieneMike WhitfieldVolkswagen Group South AfricaVWSA

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Stay Updated! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn VKontakte Telegram Email Copy Link Print
Share
ByItumeleng Garebatshabe
Editor
Follow:
Itumeleng is the Managing Editor of The Auto Magazine. He is a tech and car enthusiast

Follow US

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
TiktokFollow
TelegramFollow
Google NewsFollow
LinkedInFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You Might Also Like

Latest News

VWSA employees roll up their sleeves to conserve the environment

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
November 16, 2023
Latest News

African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) announces appointment of a new CEO

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
February 12, 2025
Latest News

VWSA honoured with Lean & Green Management Award

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
October 20, 2023
Latest News

Volkswagen Group South Africa on the road to being carbon neutral

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
February 8, 2024
Electric Vehicles

Volkswagen partners with DHL Express South Africa for the pilot test of ID.Buzz Cargo fleet in South Africa

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
November 22, 2023
Latest News

VWSA receives environmental award for 10th time

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
October 23, 2023

The Auto Magazine

  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
  • Bikes
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Auto Shows
  • Latest News
  • Motosport

Made by Intellegere Media. All rights reserved. 2023

Don't not sell my personal information
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner