Africa Automotive News Briefing 12 August

Dear AAAM Member,

The Africa Automotive News Briefing provides a weekly summary of key automotive developments from across the continent for AAAM members.

Morocco’s automotive sector prepares for shift to electric vehicles 

Morocco’s growing automotive sector is preparing the ground for the shift to electric vehicles as the country ambitions to set up a battery factory and further bolster the competitiveness of local part makers.

Read more via North Africa Post

As Kenyan car buyers dash for hybrid cars, is it time to consider electric cars amid rising fuel costs in Africa? 

The covid 19 pandemic brought in its wake tales of grim and a slump in economic activity in many parts of the world. But, in the Central African nation of Kenya, the high cost of living and rising fuel prices triggered by the pandemic, rather opened a window of hope and a new taste for innovation among Kenyan car buyers.

Read more via Face 2 Face Africa

Kenya’s new vehicle exports rise 55 percent in half-year 

New vehicle dealers exported 137 units to the regional market in the half year ended June, marking a 55.6 percent jump from the 88 units they delivered to neighbouring countries the year before.

Read more via Business Daily Africa

How Nigeria loses $10bn yearly to vehicle importation GAO DMD, Jaiyesimi 

Lack of incentive to those that invested billions in the automobile assembly project The provision of juicy financial loans with single-digit interest rates for Auto Assemblers should be provided by the government to curb the problem of inadequate capitalisation and funding.

Read more via New Telegraph

Firms collaborate to boost vehicle ownership 

Mevron, an e-hailing cab platform, has entered into a partnership with Motor Business Service Nigeria, a subsidiary of Yamaha Motors to enhance vehicle ownership. The Chief Executive Officer, Mevron, Mr Olawale Lasisi, who said this in his speech at the commencement of the company’s operations in Ibadan, explained that the partnership would provide residents and existing  Mevron motorcyclists  and tricycle riders access to two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles.

Read more via Punch

NADDC, Africar Unveil Nigeria-Assembled Mini-cars For Taxi Services 

Vasco Technology Solutions Limited, popularly known as Africar, in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), has introduced a new ride-hailing service to ease transportation difficulties across the country.

Read more via Leadership Nigeria

Stallion eyes 20% of Nigeria’s SUV market 

Stallion MG has expressed confidence that its recently launched MG ZS will capture between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of Nigeria’s Sports Utility Vehicle market.

Read more via Punch

Egypt’s president urges expanding exploration of industry localization fields 

In June, Egypt also launched the national strategy for localizing the automotive industry with a view to turn Egypt into a main gateway for emerging vehicle markets in the African continent and establishing commercial ties with main regional trade partners.

Read more via Egypt Today

E-scooters join Egypt’s ambulance fleet: Acting health minister 

Eco-friendly electric scooters joined the fleet of the Egyptian Ambulance Organisation (EAO) to respond to emergencies and provide first aid to injured people until the arrival of traditional ambulance vehicles, Acting Minister of Health Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said on Tuesday.

Read more via Ahram

Toyota African Parts Centre becomes the largest in Southern Hemisphere 

Starting out in 2012 as a 40 000m2 warehouse, the Atlas Parts Warehouse commenced with a R365 million expansion two years ago. Andrew Kirby, President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) formally opened Phase 2 of the company’s parts distribution centre in Boksburg. The addition doubles the size of the warehouse to 80 000m2 with Kirby stating that the facility will now be known as the Toyota Africa Parts Centre or the TAPC.

Read more via Car Magazine

Car makers struck by disaster were losing out on govt incentives. That has since changed 

The government has filled a gap in legislation so that disasters do not prevent the local auto industry from qualifying for benefits in terms of a government incentive scheme. The Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP2) promotes production volumes in auto manufacturing and value-add in the automotive component industry. It forms part of a long-term master plan to grow the automotive industry and create employment across the value chain.

Read more via News24

Numsa won’t budge on 20% demand in auto wage talks 

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) general secretary Irvin Jim said the union will not budge from its 20% wage increase demand in the ongoing auto sector wage negotiations, as workers in the sector have had little protection from rising costs.

Read more via News24