Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
The Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Eugene Johnson, visited Isuzu Motors South Africa’s Manufacturing plant to preview the R1.2 billion investment which will see the new generation Isuzu D-MAX, and truck upgrades, later this year.
New production lines have been constructed over the past two years to ready the production facilities for the construction of the brand-new Isuzu light commercial and heavy commercial vehicles.
The investment also involves significant upgrades to tooling and equipment, as well as refurbishing the current line to support an extension in the manufacturing of current Isuzu models. In addition to the upskilling and training of staff, Isuzu has also embarked on rigorous testing of vehicles to ensure Isuzu’s promise of producing durable, dependable, and capable vehicles re-engineered for African driving conditions.
Billy Tom, President and CEO of Isuzu Motors South Africa, updated the mayoral delegation on the progress made on the investment, including upgrades to the manufacturing plant to meet the new vehicle requirements and the state of readiness to launch exciting new Isuzu products into the market.
“The R1.2-billion investment into Isuzu’s next-generation bakkie programme in South Africa, for the South African and Rest of Africa markets, is one of the reasons the manufacturer has been able to secure about 1 000 jobs directly at Isuzu’s operations in Gqeberha, and across its national and international dealer network, as well as around 25 000 jobs at hundreds of suppliers across the country,” Billy says.
Executive Mayor Eugene Johnson says as a key revenue generator, the automotive sector is one of the most important industries for the metro. “We need this industry, with a strong revenue from companies like Isuzu it means we can secure jobs and our citizens’ livelihoods.”
South Africa is the 18th largest manufacturer of vehicles in the world and the automotive industry is the third largest sector in South Africa, contributing 5.7% of the national GDP. The country produces 80% of Africa's vehicle output.
Towards the end of last year Isuzu launched the new seven-seater mu-X SUV. The new Isuzu D-MAX bakkie will be launched in the first quarter of this year, with the launch of Isuzu’s next-generation trucks following shortly thereafter – all locally manufactured in Gqeberha.
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
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