In June 2026, africon founder and CEO Marc Zander was invited to share africon’s data on Africa’s automotive markets with Liqui Moly, the German lubricant and additives specialist, at the Liqui Moly Africa Summit 2026 in Dar es Salaam.
The summit ran from 8 to 12 June and brought together around 30 of Liqui Moly’s distributors from across the continent. Marc spoke on the Wednesday, in a 45-minute session, at the invitation of Marco Renz, Liqui Moly’s Sales Director for the Middle East and Africa, who wanted an outside, data-led perspective in the room. He was joined in Dar es Salaam by two colleagues from the africon team: Aneth Herman, Principal, and Sweetness Mathew, Analyst.
From left: Marco Renz, Liqui Moly’s Sales Director Middle East and Africa, who invited africon to the summit, with africon’s Sweetness Mathew, Aneth Herman and founder and CEO Marc Zander.
africon’s role was not to sell anything but to show the distributors where Africa’s automotive market really stands and where it is heading, drawing on africon’s own figures rather than on headlines. Much of the session focused on the vehicle parc, the Vehicles in Operation data that reveal how many cars and trucks are actually on the road in markets such as Tanzania. From there Marc widened the view, looking at how the continent’s automotive market could develop over the next 30 years.
africon founder and CEO Marc Zander sharing African automotive market data during his 45-minute session at the Liqui Moly Africa Summit 2026.
The parc is the part that tends to get missed. New vehicle sales make the headlines, but for anyone selling lubricants, parts or service it is the cars already on the road that decide real demand: how many there are, how old they are and which brands dominate them. That point clearly resonated. The distributors questioned the numbers, pressed for more, and several wanted to understand what africon does and how independent market data could help their own businesses.
Many of the distributors represent major international automotive brands across their markets. Away from the stage, the team spent time with Liqui Moly’s partners on the ground, including a visit to one of its distributors in Tanzania, as well as a tour of local workshops.
Marc Zander and the africon team with Liqui Moly distributors from across Africa during a visit to one of the company’s partners in Tanzania.
Planning your own move into Africa’s automotive market
africon’s teams on the ground, combined with a strong network of local companies and partners, can reduce the time, cost and risk of your growth strategy in Africa. If you manufacture or supply automotive products and you are weighing up the continent, write to us at info@africon.de for a confidential first conversation.
Our thanks go to Marco Renz and the Liqui Moly team for the invitation and the warm welcome in Dar es Salaam, and to the distributors who made the exchange so lively.