Victoria Backhaus-Jerling

CEO African Association of Automotive Manufacture (AAAM)

Victoria Backhaus-Jerling is the CEO of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), the leading organization dedicated to driving Africa’s automotive industrialization and sustainable growth. Under her leadership, AAAM fosters global collaboration, strengthens regional value chains, and champions policies that unlock Africa’s potential as a competitive automotive manufacturing hub. The association plays a pivotal role in shaping the continent’s mobility landscape by facilitating strategic partnerships, promoting intra- African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and advocating for affordable and sustainable mobility solutions. Before joining AAAM, Victoria led the South African Project Office of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), where she was instrumental in shaping the German automotive sector’s engagement with Africa. Prior to her work in the automotive industry, she supported the Head of the Chancellery and Federal Minister for Special Affairs at the German Parliament in Berlin, gaining valuable experience in government relations and policy development. With a deep understanding of international automotive dynamics and African market opportunities, Victoria is committed to positioning Africa as a key player in the global automotive industry. She is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.