A Driving force in South Africa’s automotive aftermarket
The Retail Motor Industry Organisation is a proactive, relevant, retail and associated motor industry organisation recognised
as the leading voice in South Africa‘s automotive after market. It serves the daily needs of its members and plays a key role
in enabling motor traders to deliver a superior service to motoring consumers. Eight Associations fall proudly under the RMI
umbrella. Inter-associational business-to-business trading is encouraged in the interests of all stakeholders.
head office www.rmi.org.za
Tel: +27 11 886 6300 | Surrey Square Office Park, 330 Surrey Avenue, Ferndale, Randburg, 2194, Gauteng, P. O. Box 2940, Randburg, 2125
reGioNal offices
Central: Randburg tel: +27 11 886 6300 | KwaZulu-Natal: Durban tel: +27 31 266 7031 | Eastern Cape/Border: Port Elizabeth tel: +27 41 364 0070 |
Western Cape: Cape Town tel: +27 21 939 9440 | Free State / Northern Cape: Bloemfontein tel: +27 51 430 3294
sapra – South African Petroleum
Retailers’ Association
SAPRA represents the interests of all petroleum retailers in
South Africa. Its aim is to improve growth and profitability
for the investor. SAPRA plays an important role in tracking
global and local trends that affect sustainability and help
retailers remain relevant in an ever-changing business
environment. Retailers voice concerns through one of
the seven regional chairs strategically located around
the country, into a National Executive Committee (NEC),
where strategy and solutions are developed. This bottom
up approach is a fundamental SAPRA imperative.
sambra – South African Motor Body
Repairers’ Association
SAMBRA is the pre-eminent motor body repair association in
South Africa representing the majority of accredited motor body
repairers. SAMBRA’s grading system, which was introduced over
30 years ago, regulates repairer standards in the motor body repair
industry in South Africa and instils confidence in consumers and
industry stakeholders alike. The Association works in close collab-
oration with various key industry stakeholders including Insurers,
Original Equipment Suppliers, paint and equipment suppliers, the
labour department and trade unions, as well as related SETAs – to
maintain industry sustainability and development. It ensures the
provision of technical and business management skills training in
order for members to meet the demands of the industry.
tepa – Tyre, Equipment, Parts Association
TEPA represents tyre dealers; garage/workshop equipment and
tool importers and distributors; auto part wholesalers, retailers
and independent operators in the aftermarket motor parts
industry as well as manufacturers and importers of parts for
the automotive aftermarket. The members of TEPA represent,
promote, sell and endorse the use of legitimate, bona fide,
quality branded products. TEPA members also export parts,
equipment and components into Africa and other countries in
the world. TEPA encourages at all times inter-associational RMI
business-to-business trading, intent on strengthening the RMI
Organisation as a whole. TEPA is seen as the mark of integrity
and fair trade for the consumer, the business operator and the
government. The Association is the legitimate voice of the tyre,
equipment, and parts industry in South Africa and is positioned
as an intermediary between government, business, and the
consumer.
vta – Vehicle Testing Association
The VTA represents private vehicle testing stations that are
committed to operating within the law in accordance with the
Road Traffic Act and the relevant SANS standards. In this highly
regulated environment, the association represents the interests
of its members at government level working groups and is
committed to enhancing the reputation of the industry in all the
spheres.
ara – Automotive Remanufacturers’ Association
ARA represents the remanufacturing trade sector. This includes
component remanufacturers involved in safety-critical compo-
nents, inclusive of but not limited to vehicle cooling, turbocharger
and braking systems; automotive engineers who machine and
remanufacture engine components by way of expert engineering
– ultimately rebuilding engines to its original specifications; and
specialists in the repair, servicing and remanufacturing of diesel
fuel injection systems fitted to diesel engines in earth moving
equipment, highway trucks, stationary engines and passenger
vehicles. ARA promotes the responsible reuse of remanufactured
engine components for a ‘greener’ environment (carbon foot-
print). Its members are dedicated to providing consumers with
only the best of advice, finest service delivery, and highest quality
workmanship.
Nada – National Automobile Dealers’ Association
NADA represents the interests of business people who own or
operate new motor vehicle and motorcycle franchise dealerships
and qualifying used motor vehicle and motorcycle outlets. NADA
is committed to the image enhancement of the retail motor busi-
ness, facilitating the interface between dealers and OEMs; import-
ers and distributors; building relationships between dealers and
customers and bringing relevant industry issues to the attention of
government. NADA is the respected voice on all matters relating to
motor vehicle and motorcycle dealer business.
miwa – Motor Industry Workshop Association
MIWA, the Independent Workshop Association, representing
general repairs, auto electrical; air conditioning; accessories and
fitment as well as transmission and driveline workshops strives
to remain ahead of the ever-changing technologies and best
practices of the aftermarket motor industry. MIWA encourages
members to support inter-associational, business-to-business
trading with a view to strengthen the RMI. MIWA remains the
leading resource for members ensuring continued relevance
and sustainability.
savaba – South African Vehicle and
Bodybuilders’ Association
SAVABA members are professional, certified and regulated
vehicle body builders in South Africa who manufacture
commercial vehicle body applications (tanker, coal, refrigerated
trucks and trailers) and bus bodies (commuter and tourist
type). Members manufacture using the latest equipment and
highly trained staff to ensure strict compliance with NRCS
regulations; SABS standards and all other legal specifications
and requirements.
CONSTITUENT ASSOCIATIONS
market sentiment, organisers of Autom
echanika Frankfurt took advantage of the
last Autopromotec to commission an inde
pendent survey of exhibitors aimed in par
ticular at identifying their preferences for
scheduling the sectors international events.
The survey revealed that, once the pan
demic is over, exhibitors would prefer that
the two most important international trade
fairs for the automotive aftermarket Auto
promotec and Automechanika return to
their traditional schedule: Autopromotec in
odd-numbered years and Automechanika
in even-numbered years.
Representatives of these two events agreed
that it was important to satisfy the markets re
quirements here, and as a consequence, Autom
echanika Frankfurt will take place on 10-14 Sep
tember 2024, while the 30 Autopromotec will
take place on 21-24 May 2025 in the Bologna fair
district, restoring the events alternation that had
been interrupted by the pandemic.
In addition, Autopromotec is creating a new
event, to be held on 16-18 November 2023. The
event, which is still in the design phase, is de
voted to manufacturers, component suppliers,
dealers and buyers and focuses on the challenges
facing the entire mobility industry, from the en
ergy transition and sustainability to new business
Autopromotec is an international exhibition
for automotive equipment and aftermarket
Bologna Exhibition Centre. Founded in 1965,
the event is organised by Promotec, a services
company owned by the AIRP (Italian Tyre
Retreaders Association) and AICA (Italian
Automotive Equipment Manufacturers
Association). The event features a unique
combination of specialisation, profession
trade show which includes over 580 prod
uct categories covering all sub-sectors of
the aftermarket takes the form of a selec
tion of specialised fairs, where visitors can
easily plan personalised itineraries based
With 13 events around the globe, Auto
mechanika is the worlds most successful B2B
trade fair brand. In 2022, a total of nine Autom
echanika trade fairs will be held worldwide. The
trade fair was first held in Frankfurt in 1971. Since
the 1990s, new locations around the world have
been added continuously. Automechanika is now
represented in 13 cities: In addition to Frankfurt,
these are Birmingham, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Ho
Chi Minh City, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Kuala Lum
pur, Mexico City, New Delhi, Nur-Sultan, Riyadh
and Shanghai.
xalta Refinish has unveiled three new
websites for its premium refinish brands,
Cromax, Spies Hecker and Standox, that
cater specifically for the Europe, Middle East and
Africa (EMEA) region. The sites offer visitors mod
ern, clean homepages and page content with an
enhanced and complete browsing experience.
Olaf Adamek, Axalta Refinish Brand Manager
for EMEA, says, “These three new websites re
flect intuitive navigation, an accessible approach
and a clear focus on products, three things we
know our visitors value, in particular the refinish
ers and bodyshops who use the sites regularly.”
One of the key changes has been to the prod
uct catalogues. Now, every SKU has a full prod
uct description so visitors can easily and quickly
find specific products, which are conveniently
grouped by category, usage area, related paint
system or related mixing system. Users can also
search the catalogues by material codes or key
“The websites’ new architecture, which we
have created with user feedback in mind, pro
vides even more of the content our sites’ visitors
want in real-time. The product catalogues are
now refreshed automatically a new product is
added or updated in our database, so refinishers
will have the latest information about our innova
tive technologies at a click of a mouse or a tap of
a finger,” adds Adamek.
Like the previous sites, visitors can receive
all the sites’ content regardless of how they ac
cess it as the layout is completely responsive, so
it adapts regardless of whether the websites are
browsed from a laptop, desktop, a tablet or a mo
bile phone.
Users can still utilise the website like an app
on home screens of iOS and Android mobile
devices by simply saving the site. It appears as an
icon, enabling fast access to important informa
tion such as the product catalogues or technical
“While each site retains the iconic look and feel
of each brand, we’ve ensured our users have fresh,
valuable content thanks to lean, responsive pages
from day one,” concludes Adamek.