Building Africa’s Future: The Africa Automotive Show at IATF2025 is set to Drive Pan-African Collaboration and Growth
IATF2025 = Intra-African Trade Fair 2025
The Africa Automotive Show at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025, incorporating the Auto Forum and an expansive exhibition, will take centre stage in Algiers from September 4 to 10, 2025, as a core highlight of the fourth biennial IATF. Organised by Afreximbank, the African Union, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and hosted by The Democratic People’s Republic of Algeria, IATF2025, serves as a beacon of hope and progress for intra-African trade, a sector that currently represents about 14% of Africa’s total global trade. This unique event is poised to accelerate momentum in Africa’s automotive sector, building on the IATF’s 2023 success in Cairo, where 28,000+ visitors and 1,939 exhibitors facilitated trade deals worth US$43.8billion.
Africa’s automotive potential has moved from aspiration to action, as international and local players alike recognise the continent’s promise. The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) views this moment as pivotal, with Africa’s auto industry offering exponential growth opportunities. A new narrative of success is emerging, from local innovators to multinational giants – proof of Africa’s spirit of resilience, innovation and entrepreneurial strength.
“The AAAM in collaboration with Afreximbank, the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Union will proudly host the Africa Automotive Show at IATF 2025 to showcase achievements in the automotive sector and lay the groundwork for future progress. Our aim is to elevate the African market demand to between three and five million units by 2035 – a substantial leap from today’s figures,”
said Victoria Backhaus-Jerling, AAAM’s newly appointed CEO. This two-day forum will run alongside a dedicated automotive exhibition that will take precedence within the wider IATF, creating a central space for conversation, collaboration and advancement.
In early 2023, AfCFTA member states approved a visionary continental automotive strategy, crafted in part by AAAM, with support from Afreximbank and the AfCFTA Secretariat, to forge resilient regional supply chains, nurture local manufacturing capabilities and strengthen African-made solutions. Backhaus-Jerling believes that the Africa Automotive Show at IATF 2025 will be pivotal in progressing these goals, with in-depth discussions on building African supply chains, engaging manufacturers and integrating raw material suppliers into Africa’s production ecosystem.
The Africa Automotive Show will also focus on strategies for reducing used vehicle imports – a significant challenge to local industry growth.
“Equally important will be the discussion on the elimination of used vehicle imports through a phased approach. The volume of used vehicle imports alone dilutes the localisation opportunity for the manufacture and supply of components to assemblers and after-sales services. When we invest in local manufacturing, we pave the way for economic empowerment, job creation and a thriving intra-African supply chain. Effective policy design, affordable mobility solutions, rollout and implementation will be key drivers of success,”
Backhaus-Jerling emphasised.
Algeria, as the host location, is poised to be a dynamic force in Africa’s automotive evolution. Its recent policy reforms and establishment of major assembly plants, like Stellantis, signal Algeria’s potential to drive industrialisation and inspire a new era of automotive manufacturing across the continent.
The Africa Automotive Show at IATF 2025 will be more than an event – it’s a transformative gathering, providing a gateway to an integrated African market of over 1.3 billion people and a GDP surpassing US$3.5 trillion, enabled by the AfCFTA.
“The vision is to make the Africa Automotive Show the ultimate platform for all industry players – from raw material suppliers and manufacturers to dealers, importers, aftermarket suppliers, and financial industry partners – uniting stakeholders from every corner of Africa,”
said Africa Automotive Show Director, Andrew Binning.
OEMs, national assemblers, suppliers and value chain partners from across Africa will converge at the exhibition, while thought leaders, global partners and heads of state will assemble at the Automotive Forum to shape Africa’s automotive future. Opportunities for exhibition space and sponsorship are now open.
