Mahindra South Africa reached a milestone with the 10 000th locally assembled Pik Up that rolled off the line in KwaZulu-Natal. This significant milestone follows four years after Mahindra opened its South African assembly facility at the Dube Trade port Special Economic Zone outside Durban.
The Indian manufacturer also unveiled its new corporate identity last month with the showing of new models due for local release during the year.
Speaking on the announcement, Sachin Arolkar, Head of International Operations, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, said: “It is a moment of pride to see the Pik Up roll off the assembly line, knowing that it has become a much-loved part of the South African bakkie market. We are fully committed to making South Africa our second home outside of India, and we look forward to further developing this facility to increase production volumes with higher local content and to also expand our reach into more countries in Africa.”
Mahindra South Africa first opened the Assembly Facility in May 2018, with a single assembly line and a limited vehicle line-up. Since then, the facility has reached peak single-shift production and added several additional models, special editions and customised vehicles, which it builds in partnership with the team at Mahindra Special Fitment Centre in Gauteng.
Speaking at the announcement, Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa said: “This is a significant milestone for Mahindra, our team and our partners. The past four years have been tough with the COVID pandemic, riots in KwaZulu-Natal, the recent floods that ravaged this province and the ongoing challenge with components and global shipping. Everyone who is involved in this project has shown an unwavering commitment to make the facility a success and to best serve our growing customer base. We celebrate this milestone with each one of them.”
Mahindra South Africa reached a new sales benchmark in the first quarter of 2022 when it averaged sales of more than 1 000 units a month, with the Pik Up leading the charge for the commercial vehicle division.
“The facility has enabled us to adapt to market needs and to serve our bakkie customers faster. For instance, our special Farmer’s Edition sold out within days of its launch and our Karoo and new Karoo Dusk, Dawn and Storm models are now available, thanks largely to the local assembly facility,” said Rajesh.
Mahindra and its assembly partner, AIH Logistics, build a near-complete range of Pik Up models, including the highly popular Karoo and specialised models such as the Pik Up Ambulance.
The current oil and fuel crisis is easier to understand when the global energy supply chain is viewed as a network rather than simply a question of how much oil the world produces.
Building a new dealership, modernising an ageing workshop or preparing for the latest OEM facility audit often means coordinating multiple suppliers, contractors and installation teams. Bright Focus offers a simpler approach, providing everything from workshop equipment and parts storage to service reception solutions and EV-ready facilities through a single point of contact.
Lexus has introduced the all-new ES to South Africa, bringing a larger footprint, more advanced technology and a choice of hybrid or fully electric power. The eighth-generation model also arrives with a redesigned cabin, fresh styling and expanded levels of comfort and safety.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
The current oil and fuel crisis is easier to understand when the global energy supply chain is viewed as a network rather than simply a question of how much oil the world produces.
Building a new dealership, modernising an ageing workshop or preparing for the latest OEM facility audit often means coordinating multiple suppliers, contractors and installation teams. Bright Focus offers a simpler approach, providing everything from workshop equipment and parts storage to service reception solutions and EV-ready facilities through a single point of contact.
South African Auto Week 2026 opened in Durban on Tuesday, 13 October, with transformation and skills development among the key issues for the automotive industry, highlighted by an Absa Group investment of R13.5 million in the Automotive Business Council | naamsa’s Dreams Academy.
