Monday, 18 September 2023 – Gqeberha
South Africa is witnessing a substantial surge in automotive investments worth billions, especially in the Eastern Cape.
On Wednesday, Stellantis, a multinational automotive conglomerate, announced its plans to inject R3 billion into South Africa. This significant investment aims to create a cutting-edge automotive manufacturing facility from the ground up in Coega, located in the Eastern Cape. Along with this development comes a much-needed boost in employment opportunities in the province. According to Coega Development Corporation (CDC) CEO Khwezi Tiya, the new Stellantis plant will create more than 1,800 jobs.
Stellantis emerged in 2021 following the merger between two prominent automotive entities: the French-based PSA Group and the Italian-American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Stellantis boasts a portfolio of nine vehicle brands, which includes well-known names such as Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Jeep, Opel, Peugeot, and Abarth.
Stellantis’ investment follows the 2023 NAACAM Show held last month, where a total of 16 automotive component manufacturers in South Africa, including CRH-Africa and Adient PPC, committed to inject R4.86 billion into the country’s economy by the end of December 2024.
CRH-Africa and Adient-PPC’s commitment to the local automotive industry is unwavering and ongoing. We firmly believe in supporting our local economy and fostering sustainable growth within the automotive sector. Strategic partnerships will help us continue to prioritize the region’s economic vitality with both current and future local suppliers. Our dedication to localization extends beyond mere business interests; it reflects our deep-rooted belief in community engagement and our vision for a thriving, interconnected automotive ecosystem in our region.
We are excited to witness and participate in exciting developments within the next few years.