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Albert Wessels

1908 – 1991

South African businessman

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About Albert Wessels

Lived 1908 – 1991 (aged 82). Albert Wessels was a South African businessperson.

Albert Wessels (1 October 1908 - 22 July 1991) was a South African industrialist and the founder of Toyota South Africa.

Toyota South Africa can trace its roots back to 1961, when Wessels obtained a permit to import ten Toyopet Stout pickup trucks (popularly known as bakkies in South Africa) from Japan. Toyota products proved to be very popular in South Africa and by 1968 Toyota had become the largest producer of commercial vehicles in the country; in the same year it was also chosen as "company of the year" by the South African financial press.

Albert Wessels was succeeded as chief executive officer of Toyota South Africa by his son, Bert Wessels, in 1988; Bert also became the company's executive chairman on his father's death.

He married the South African poet Elisabeth Eybers in 1937, but the couple - who had three daughters and a son - divorced in 1961. However, the Albert Wessels Trust continued to fund the Elisabeth Eybers Prize.

Wessels published an autobiography, Farmboy and Industrialist, in 1987.

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Important facts

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People in Albert Wessels's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Albert Wessels?

South African businessman (1908-1991)

When was Albert Wessels born?

Albert Wessels was born on 1 October 1908.

When did Albert Wessels die?

Albert Wessels died on 22 July 1991.

What was Albert Wessels's occupation?

Albert Wessels was a businessperson.

What nationality was Albert Wessels?

Albert Wessels was South African.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Albert Wessels

· Wikidata: Q4711452

· DBpedia: Albert Wessels

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Albert Wessels. https://biography.guide/albert-wessels/

MLA: "Albert Wessels." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/albert-wessels/.

Chicago: "Albert Wessels." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/albert-wessels/.

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