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By Moses Akaigwe
The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) has announced its newly elected office bearers and Advisory Board for the 2026 to 2028 term, marking a new chapter in the association’s efforts to advance automotive industrialisation and sustainable mobility across Africa.
Tarek Mosaad, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Motor Middle East and Africa, has been elected President of AAAM. He succeeds Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa, who led the association during the previous term.
Mosaad will be supported by five vice-presidents representing Africa’s key automotive regions and the component-manufacturing sector.
The newly elected AAAM office bearers for 2026 to 2028 are:
*President: Tarek Mosaad, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hyundai Middle East and Africa
*Vice-President: North Africa: Ankush Arora, Chief Executive Officer, Al Mansour Automotive
*Vice-President: East Africa: Serge Kamuhinda, Chief Executive Officer, Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda
*Vice-President: West Africa: Kassem Odaymat, Chief Operating Officer, Rana Motors
*Vice-President: Southern Africa: Billy Tom, President, Isuzu Motors South Africa
*Vice-President: Components: Dr Markus Thill, President: Africa Region, Bosch
The new leadership assumes responsibility at an important time for Africa’s automotive industry, as governments and private-sector stakeholders increasingly focus on translating continental policy commitments into investment, manufacturing capacity, regional value chains and employment.
AAAM Chief Executive Officer Victoria Backhaus-Jerling congratulated the incoming office bearers and expressed confidence that their collective experience would strengthen the association’s work across the continent.
“AAAM welcomes the election of Tarek Mosaad and the incoming vice-presidents. Their extensive experience across Africa’s diverse automotive markets will be invaluable as we work with governments, development institutions and industry partners to move from policy development towards implementation,” said Backhaus-Jerling.
“Our priority remains to support the development of coherent automotive policies, deepen localisation, attract investment and strengthen regional production and trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Effective collaboration across Africa’s regions will be essential if the continent is to establish a globally competitive and sustainable automotive industry.”
Mosaad said he was honoured to take on the role and looked forward to working with AAAM members and partners to advance the continent’s automotive ambitions.
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“Africa presents significant opportunities for automotive growth, but realising this potential will require greater alignment between governments, manufacturers, suppliers, financiers and development partners,” said Mosaad.
“I look forward to building on the strong foundation established by the outgoing leadership and supporting AAAM’s work to expand vehicle production, strengthen regional value chains and improve access to affordable and sustainable mobility across the continent.”
AAAM has also constituted an Advisory Board to provide institutional continuity, regional insight and strategic guidance to the association’s leadership.
The Advisory Board comprises:
*Immediate Past President: Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director, Volkswagen Group Africa
*Past President: Mike Whitfield, Managing Director, Stellantis South Africa
*Southern Africa representative: Bronwyn Kilpatrick, Senior Vice-President: Corporate, Toyota South Africa
*West Africa representative: Jeffrey Peprah, Chief Executive Officer, Volkswagen Ghana
*North Africa representative: Dr Ahmed Fikry, Managing Director, East Port Said and Egyptian German Automotive
Reflecting on her term as AAAM President, Biene thanked the association’s members, partners and secretariat for their support and reaffirmed her commitment to AAAM through her new role as Immediate Past President.
Bien stated: “I would like to congratulate the newly elected AAAM office bearers, and I wish them every success as they continue to advance Africa’s automotive agenda and unlock new opportunities for growth, trade and job creation across the continent.
“AAAM plays an important role in strengthening Africa’s automotive industry by bringing together industry, governments, and key stakeholders around a shared vision for sustainable industrial growth across the continent.
“Together, with the AAAM team, we have strengthened the organisation’s position as the voice of Africa’s automotive industry, bringing OEMs, component manufacturers, governments, continental institutions and other key stakeholders together around a common vision: building a globally competitive and sustainable automotive sector which drives industrialisation, job creation and economic growth across the continent,”
The Advisory Board brings together former presidents and senior industry leaders to retain institutional knowledge and broaden the regional perspectives informing AAAM’s strategic direction.
The incoming leadership will continue to support AAAM’s objective of developing an integrated African automotive ecosystem. This includes working with national governments, continental institutions and the private sector to advance enabling policy frameworks, increase localisation, develop skills, mobilise investment and strengthen cross-border automotive value chains.
AAAM will also continue advocating for an inclusive transition towards new-energy vehicles and emerging mobility solutions that supports Africa’s industrial development priorities while expanding access to affordable mobility.
