South African Automotive Week – an international trade event intended to show off the country’s auto component manufacturing industry – will take place from 2-6 October in Port Elizabeth amidst what organisers say is growing international interest.
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The event follows a record-breaking year for the domestic industry in 2006, when South Africa was again one of the best performing markets internationally with both local sales and industry output rising to record highs.
The week includes exhibitions, conferences, ‘match-making meetings’ and networking functions.
Organisers, supported by the National Association of Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) and the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), said it would shine a global spotlight on South Africa’s component manufacturing industry and facilitate contacts between manufacturers at both local and international levels.
The theme of the week is ‘Wheels into Africa’. Organisers said the continent is increasingly being eyed as both a potential manufacturing base and market due to growing economies, a low manufacturing cost base and access to the world.
NAACAM executive director Roger Pitot said the event would be held every October in alternate years to South Africa’s other large exhibition, Auto Africa.
Delegates from Detroit, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Italy, China, the Far East and North Africa have already confirmed attendance. More are expected from China, Korea and India, which is considering a dedicated pavilion.
Nine international automotive experts will share global best practice for automotive engineering and logistics. The school of engineering at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University will host the ‘Get your wheels turning’ seminar, one of three planned conferences.
South African automotive component manufacturers exported R30.3bn worth of products in 2006, according to NAACAM, up 32% year on year.
Catalytic converters were the most exported vehicle parts from South Africa, up 58.2% to R15.9bn in export revenue. Other significantly increased exports during 2006 included engines (+29.1%), silencers and exhausts (78.7%), radios and sound systems (40.3%), radiators (65.9%), and heavy truck axles (86.1%).
The Port Elizabeth region hosting the event is home to four vehicle assemblers and over 200 component manufacturers, as well as South Africa’s unique deep water port.
NAAMSA said the local auto industry exported 179,854 vehicles in 2006, up 28.5%. It predicts SA exports will exceed 220,000 units in 2007 as major export programmes commence during the year, for example, Ford Australia is now sourcing its Focus line from South Africa.
“South Africa’s track record as a manufacturer and supplier of vehicles and automotive components has been firmly established over recent years and the positive export growth momentum … should continue through 2007 and beyond,” NAAMSA said.
