By Staff Writer
South Africa's automotive industry has long been defined by engineering excellence, technological innovation and fierce competition. Increasingly, however, another story is unfolding behind the scenes, one that deserves just as much recognition. It is the story of women helping shape the future of mobility.
This week, Geely Auto South Africa gave the industry another reason to celebrate. Fresh from the local launch of the all-new Coolray, the brand also shone a spotlight on the women helping build its South African operation from the ground up, a team that is proving leadership, strategy and creativity are just as important to a successful vehicle launch as the product itself.
Leading the team is Jacqueline Kruger, Head of Marketing at Geely Auto South Africa,who has overseen the establishment of the brand's local marketing operation during its first six months in the country. Supporting her are Onela Mtilwa, Marketing Manager, who leads the brand's digital marketing strategy; Nomfundo Khambule, Junior Dealer Marketing Manager, responsible for dealer support and brand consistency; and the recently appointed Itu Mofurutsi, Dealer Marketing Manager, who further strengthens Geely's growing dealer network.
While the automotive sector remains largely male-dominated, stories like these signal a meaningful shift. Across the industry, more women are taking on influential leadership roles in marketing, product strategy, communications, engineering and retail, helping shape how brands connect with customers and how mobility evolves in South Africa.
For XploreZA, this represents more than a company milestone It reflects an industry that is steadily becoming more representative of the people it serves.
"Seeing women lead from the front in one of the world's most competitive industries is encouraging for the entire mobility sector,'s" says Mabuyane Mabuza, Publisher of XploreZA.
"Success is built on talent, vision and hard work, and it is encouraging to see manufacturers such as Geely investing in diverse leadership teams that bring fresh perspectives to the business. We hope more brands continue to create opportunities for women across every part of the automotive value chain."
As Geely continues to expand its footprint locally following the successful introduction of the Coolray, its growing leadership team serves as a reminder that the future of mobility is not only being driven by new technology and new vehicles, but also by the people behind them.
At XploreZA, we celebrate every milestone that helps move South Africa's automotive industry forward, and this is certainly one worth recognising.
