South Africa’s fast evolving automotive industry faces an urgent challenge in ensuring technical aftersales skills keep pace with increasingly advanced vehicle technology.
That was the message from Hyundai Automotive South Africa CEO, Stanley Anderson at the launch of the new Motus Training Academy in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal. The academy will train around 2 000+ students annually in mechatronics, electric energy vehicle, diagnostics and advanced servicing technologies.
“As the automotive industry evolves at an accelerated pace, the need for highly skilled technicians and artisans has never been greater,” he says. “Academies like this play a critical role in preparing young people for sustainable careers while ensuring the industry remains globally competitive.”
“Modern vehicles are becoming more technologically advanced every year, particularly with the growth of electric mobility, digital diagnostics, connected systems and advanced servicing technologies. The industry must ensure that aftersales skills evolve at the same speed as the innovation entering our market.”
Hyundai Automotive South Africa has significantly expanded its own youth and technical development initiatives in recent years. The company currently supports 338 apprentices across its 97 national dealer network, with women making up nearly a quarter of the programme.
Earlier this month, Hyundai also revealed that its youth employment programme attracted more than 33 000 applications nationally, highlighting demand for workplace opportunities in the automotive sector.
“The future of automotive retail and manufacturing will depend heavily on technical capability and continuous skills development,” Stanley says.
South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) market is at a pivotal moment. Progress has been made in manufacturing, registrations, and charging infrastructure, but the pace and scale of adoption will depend on decisive policy choices and coordinated industry action.
TruckStore, the used-vehicle division of Daimler Truck Southern Africa, has opened a new facility on the West Rand, strengthening its presence in one of Gauteng’s busiest used-truck corridors.
Isuzu Motors South Africa has begun distributing the latest D-Max from its Gqeberha plant to dealerships across the country, with further shipments planned for more than 30 African markets.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
Isuzu Motors South Africa has begun distributing the latest D-Max from its Gqeberha plant to dealerships across the country, with further shipments planned for more than 30 African markets.
Stellantis is accelerating its push into software defined vehicles through an expanded partnership with Qualcomm Technologies that will bring more advanced driver assistance, connectivity and in car digital systems to its next generation vehicles.
A South African dealership has been instructed to remove or amend an advertisement for a new Jetour T2 after the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruled that the listing created the impression that a specific vehicle was immediately available for purchase when it was not.
