by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – MARTINA Biene is the new president of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM).
The Volkswagen Group South Africa’s (VWSA) Chairperson and Managing Director has been elected to take over from Nissan’s Mike Whitfield, who has been at the helm since 2020.
Biene has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry having joined Volkswagen in 2001 where she held multiple roles in the company in Sales, Marketing, Product Planning and Product Marketing for Luxury Vehicles and the Volkswagen Brand in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and South Africa.
“I became passionate about Africa after completing an internship in Cape Town before joining Volkswagen in Germany,” she said.
“My career has allowed me to return to Africa to help with the industrialisation of Africa through the automotive industry which will help to create opportunities and sustainable jobs.”
Biene paid tribute to Whitfield and the AAAM team.
Her major task is to grow the automotive manufacturing industry from the 1,1 million vehicles a year today to some 3,5 million, or even 5 million, by 2035.
During Whitfield’s tenure at AAAM, a Continental Automotive Strategy and Implementation Plan was developed in conjunction with the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Africa Union, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Afreximbank and African Organisation for Standardisation.
– CAJ News