AAAM CEO Reflects on 2025

2025: Building Capacity, Strengthening Partnerships and Advancing Africa’s Automotive Future

As we draw 2025 to a close, I am proud to reflect on a year of meaningful progress for the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) a year defined by collaboration, capacity building and decisive action in advancing Africa’s automotive industrialisation agenda.

I was deeply humbled to step into the role of CEO in March 2025, following the exceptional legacy of my predecessor, Dave Coffey. This transition energised our organisation and reaffirmed AAAM’s commitment to inclusive and strategic industry leadership. We strengthened our presence with the launch of a dedicated North Africa office in Tunisia, a significant step in advancing automotive industrial growth across the broader continent and supporting regional value chain development.

We also appointed a project manager to focus on expanding manufacturing of components for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) assembly and the aftermarket on the continent.

Throughout the year, AAAM deepened its role as a trusted partner to governments, industry and continental institutions, ensuring that policy, investment and implementation move forward hand in hand.

A major milestone in 2025 was the long-awaited conclusion of negotiations on the automotive Rules of Origin under the AfCFTA. This achievement represents a critical breakthrough for the sector, providing clarity and certainty for manufacturers and investors while laying the foundation for regional value chains and intra-African trade. With adoption targeted for February 2026, AAAM will continue to actively support member states, institutions, and industry stakeholders to ensure effective implementation and alignment with national automotive development strategies.

Building on this momentum, one of our most significant achievements was the launch of the Industrial Policy Executive Short Course (ESC), delivered in partnership with Afreximbank and the AfCFTA Secretariat. The programme brought together senior policymakers from across the continent to strengthen capabilities in industrial policy design, regional value chains and localisation. This initiative reflects our belief that sustainable automotive ecosystems require informed, aligned and empowered leadership across both the public and private sectors.

AAAM also played a leading role at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), where we convened another Africa Automotive Forum. The forum provided a high-profile platform that elevated the visibility of Africa’s emerging automotive industry, enabling meaningful dialogue among policymakers, manufacturers, financiers and innovators. Discussions focused on affordable and sustainable mobility, the development of competitive automotive value chains, and the role of intra-African trade in unlocking scale.

The strong engagement around these sessions reaffirmed the automotive sector’s importance as a catalyst for industrial growth, skills development and job creation.

Throughout the year, we travelled to North, East, West and South Africa as well as Asia and Europe. We continued to strengthen strategic partnerships – including with Afreximbank and the AfCFTA Secretariat – to support financing mechanisms, policy alignment and trade integration that underpin Africa’s industrial ambitions. We also expanded our continental footprint, reinforcing AAAM’s ability to engage meaningfully across regions and respond to the diverse realities of African markets.

None of this progress would be possible without the commitment and collaboration of our members, partners, sponsors and stakeholders. Your trust, insights and shared vision continue to drive AAAM’s work and impact. We also extend gratitude to members of the media across the African continent and other parts of the world for telling our stories.

As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with momentum and purpose – focused on implementation, deeper collaboration and building resilient, inclusive automotive value chains across the continent.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to continued progress and partnership in 2026.

Warm regards,

Victoria Backhaus-Jerling

CEO: African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM)

Please follow and like us: