The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau, today presided over the announcement of a groundbreaking R1.175 billion partnership between Toyota South Africa Motors and Ogihara South Africa at the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone in Durban.
In his keynote address, Minister Tau praised the venture as a critical step towards advancing South Africa’s localisation strategy within the automotive industry, which aligns with the South African Automotive Masterplan objectives. This joint venture is set to deepen industrialisation, create jobs, and attract foreign direct investment into the country.
“We welcome this strategic investment as it directly supports the priorities of the 7th Administration under President Cyril Ramaphosa, particularly in driving faster implementation of industrialisation, job creation, and transformation. This partnership between Toyota and Ogihara is not only a testament to the strength of our automotive industry but also highlights the importance of localisation in building a resilient, competitive economy,” said Tau.
He highlighted the significant employment opportunities that will result from this investment.
“Through this investment, the companies have committed to increasing the number of jobs, and I am told that this is expected to create 250 new jobs directly, with a further 1 040 indirect jobs across the value chain. Additionally, the investment will target small and medium enterprises development, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth. As government, we express our full support for this remarkable advancement and affirm our collective commitment to making South Africa the preferred investment destination,” noted Tau.
The newly established Ogihara production facility, based at the Dube TradePort, will significantly enhance local automotive manufacturing. The plant will increase the local content of popular Toyota models such as the Hilux, Fortuner, and Corolla, in line with the localisation targets of SAAM, aiming for 60% by 2035.
Tau also stressed the importance of future investments in New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), stating.
“This event signals a commitment to transforming our automotive industry for future generations. Investments like these not only strengthen local value chains but also position South Africa at the forefront of innovation as we build the industrial capacity required for the next generation of automotive production,” said Tau.
The venture is expected to create substantial employment opportunities, further boosting the local economy while strengthening South Africa’s position as a key player in the global automotive.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau delivering a keynote address during launch of the R1.175 billion partnership between Toyota South Africa Motors and Ogihara South Africa at the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone in Durban today.
Media enquiries
Yamkela Fanisi – Ministerial Spokesperson
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
YFanisi@thedtic.gov.za
076 034 6551
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