Editor’ s Note
Welcome to 2026, which promises to be one of the most important phases in automotive history, as early 2020s technology investments meet mid-decade market realities. It’ s a privilege to be entrusted with aBr’ s voice within the South African automotive and transport industry, as the new editor.
I’ ve spent 20 years working as an automotive journalist and analyst. Learning from excellent local industry leaders and benefitting from exposure to international trends, with global auto show, product launch and technology conference experiences. under severe pressure, with South Africa being between two spheres of influence: we are an emerging market, but also have a legacy automotive OEM presence.
Whether you are a proudly independent family business supplying one of the local OEM assembly plants. A commercial fleet manager who makes South Africa’ s daily transport logistics work. Or a startup software engineer, scenario planning for the next crucial digital transformation in automotive. aBr will have insights that speak to you.
Where did it all start for me? As an 11-year-old, the 1992 Dakar( the Paris-to-Cape Town version) passed by my neighbourhood on its final day. It was a surreal moment seeing all the fabled racing cars and trucks that had always lived in my imagination, parked near my family home. From that moment on, I decided the automotive industry was for me.
The editorial vision is for aBr to be a resource where everyone in the local industry can access thought leadership and understanding of issues that are impacting the automotive business.
Suppliers and the aftermarket define the automotive industry. New passenger and commercial vehicles have become incredibly sophisticated, as engineers have developed technologies to enhance safety and comply with emissions regulations. That means the health of the supplier and aftermarket community, which are now responsible for the bulk of R & D and durability for new family cars, fleets, and severeduty trucks, is more important than ever.
At aBr, we want to decode international trends and make them relevant to the South African context. Globally, the legacy automotive industry is
South Africa’ s automotive industry builds some of the world’ s most successful models. Its digital fleet management ecosystem has created some of the world’ s most pioneering vehicle, freight and fulfilment applications. Local automotive technicians are masterful at keeping fleets running in the most demanding conditions imaginable. aBr is here to celebrate the excellence and innovation of the local automotive industry. But also interrogate the technical trends and global regulations that matter. Bringing clarity and understanding to people making crucial daily decisions at all levels of the South African automotive industry.
* And yes, I do have a favourite vehicle: any period correct Unimog 416 …
Lce Brquho
JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2026 1 WORDS IN ACTION