Subaru Southern Africa is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Toshimitsu Tanaka as its new Managing Director, effective 1 August 2025. Mr. Tanaka succeeds Mr. Andrew Marshall, who retires after five years of dedicated service and leadership.
Mr. Tanaka, a seasoned executive from Japan, brings with him over 30 years of experience in the global automotive sector. His international career spans key leadership roles across Africa, North America, and Asia, including his most recent position as Deputy Managing Director of Subaru Southern Africa, a role he has held for the past two years.
Before joining Subaru, Mr. Tanaka held senior positions within Toyota Tsusho Group, including Assistant General Manager for Toyota Tsusho Africa, Group Manager at Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Vice Division Head at Toyota Tsusho America. He also played a pivotal role in establishing Toyota Tsusho Africa’s facilities in Durban as project leader — a career milestone that speaks to his commitment to innovation, growth, and teamwork.
With deep insight into both the South African automotive landscape and the broader global market, Mr. Tanaka is ideally positioned to lead Subaru into its next chapter.
“It’s a great honour to take the helm at Subaru Southern Africa. This is a brand that represents confidence, adventure, and loyalty — not only in the products we build but in the people we serve. My focus will be on expanding our presence and enhancing the customer experience across the region. I look forward to working closely with our dealer network, our partners, and — most importantly — our customers, to take Subaru to even greater heights,” says Mr. Tanaka.
Mr. Tanaka’s appointment marks an exciting new era for Subaru Southern Africa as the brand continues to evolve to meet the needs of a modern, discerning, and adventurous customer base.
Manly Reno
South Africa ranked 6th best out of 24 countries in the Contact Middle World rankings for 2012, up from 9th in 2011.