The inaugural NAACAM Show reflected a significant intent and strategy shift within South Africa’s automotive sector. Meeting 60% local content goal would transform economy, create 49 000 jobs.

Speaking at the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers of South Africa (NAACAM) show held in Durban in April 2017 the Automotive Masterplan lead and B&M Analysts chairperson Dr Justin Barnes said the achievement of a 60% level of localisation would make a significant impact on the South African economy, including the creation of 49 000 new jobs and an additional R68 billion in GDP.

Barnes said the Automotive Masterplan and associated policy levers, which would replace the Automotive Production Development Plan in 2020, was at an “advanced stage of development” and that more concrete details would be shared over the coming weeks.

Speaking at the Show, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies reaffirmed government’s ‘significant support’ for the automotive sector and said learnings which informed the policy “were not based on countries that have abandoned support of the auto sector.’”

“I was really pleased to see a vast array of component suppliers at the Show, showing the depth and breadth of the supply chain, including black industrialists, a number of whom have entered the space with support from OEMs and large Tier Ones.”

Davies said any beneficiary of future automotive policies would need to demonstrate contribution to black-supplier development and localisation which was “central to dealing with stubbornly high unemployment levels.”

Toyota SA President and National Association of Automotive Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) representative, Andrew Kirby said he was “encouraged that we have gained alignment in the overall picture of the masterplan and the acceptance of its key targets for the sector.”

NUMSA Secretary General Irvin Jim said the industry faced “serious challenges and business and social movements and had to develop the agenda to address these together. Otherwise we will have no one else to blame.’”

National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers of South Africa President Dave Coffey said the stated acceptance by industry role-players of the need to increase local content in manufactured vehicles from its current level of 38.5% to 60% was significant.

Reflecting on feedback from 13 conference sessions attended by up to 500 automotive executives and policy makers, Coffey said so much was learned and while there are always different positions, platforms such as these help sector participants find each other.

“Members of the South African automotive sector value chain are clear that the key long term outcomes of sector growth, increased localisation and transformation are inextricably linked. The NAACAM Show entrenched that view. On that score I am delighted with that as an outcome of the Show.”

“All South African automotive role-players understand that transformation and the inclusion of black-owned suppliers in the value chain, is not negotiable. There is a renewed sense of urgency and move to action, in this regard, which is significant.” Coffey said. “It is not business as usual.”

“Given the fact that approximately triple the number of jobs are created in component manufacturing than vehicle assembly, there is commitment across the board to deepen levels of local content. This responsibility falls as much with Tier 1 component manufacturers as it does with OEMs.”

NAACAM Executive Director Renai Moothilal reinforced the networking and profiling value of the event.

“This really was a showcase of the full spectrum of the SA automotive manufacturing value chain. From the OEM localisation focussed stands, to the multitude of tier one manufacturers, the black owned suppliers, tyre manufacturers, service providers to the sector, and even a joint catalytic converter industry stand, the show and exhibition just reinforced what collaborative action in this sector will bring.”