President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed strong confidence in South Africa's automotive industry, stating it is making crucial investments to build resilience and lead the transition to green mobility despite mounting global pressures.
In his weekly newsletter this week, Ramaphosa emphasized protecting existing automotive jobs as paramount, particularly with looming US tariffs threatening the sector. He stressed the urgent need to diversify export markets, committing to work with industry players to expand their continental presence and leverage existing trade relationships within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The sector's economic impact is substantial, supporting more than 115 000 direct manufacturing jobs and over 500 000 positions across the value chain, while contributing approximately 5.3% to the country's GDP. Currently, exports account for around two-thirds of local vehicle production.
However, Ramaphosa acknowledged significant challenges ahead, including new emissions regulations in key markets like the European Union and fresh USA tariffs. The global shift from internal combustion engines toward hybrid and electric vehicles has made green mobility increasingly critical for manufacturers.
The recent launch of BMW's new X3 plug-in hybrid at the company's Rosslyn plant in Tshwane highlighted this transition. South Africa serves as the exclusive global production site for this model, representing what Ramaphosa called "a welcome signal to investors that South Africa remains a favourable place to do business."
South Africa is scrambling to protect its economy after USA’s President Donald Trump signed sweeping tariff measures targeting the country's key exports, potentially putting 100 000 jobs at risk, reported Reuters on 1 August.
Vehicle exports to the US – South Africa’s second-largest trading partner and a key destination for locally manufactured premium models – have plummeted by 82.2% in the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2024.
The National Consumer Commission's (NCC) authority to publish and alert South Africans about vehicle recalls stems from the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), which underpins the legislative framework for consumer protection in South Africa.
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I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.
Ariel Gore
South Africa is scrambling to protect its economy after USA’s President Donald Trump signed sweeping tariff measures targeting the country's key exports, potentially putting 100 000 jobs at risk, reported Reuters on 1 August.
Vehicle exports to the US – South Africa’s second-largest trading partner and a key destination for locally manufactured premium models – have plummeted by 82.2% in the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2024.
The National Consumer Commission's (NCC) authority to publish and alert South Africans about vehicle recalls stems from the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), which underpins the legislative framework for consumer protection in South Africa.
