Dear PtSA Member,
PtSA, a member of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) shares this brief with you exclusively as our member.
The article which caught my attention this week is the call from new energy vehicle manufacturers to government in finalising the country’s new energy vehicle policy. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of automotive business council Naamsa says “government has been procrastinating on this for far too long. Consultations and the things they have done up until now do not justify the amount the time they have taken to get us where we are.”
Enjoy the read!
Africa Automotive News Briefing 30 September
Dear AAAM Member,
The Africa Automotive News Briefing provides a weekly summary of key automotive developments from across the continent for AAAM members.
Volkswagen needs new LCs to continue operations in Egypt
Volkswagen needs to open new letters of credit (LCs) to secure spare parts to continue operations in Egypt, Al-Mal News reported on September 26th, citing Medhat Ismail, Sales and Marketing Director at Egyptian Automotive and Trading, the agent of Volkswagen and Audi brands in Egypt. The stock of spare parts at Volkswagen’s Egyptian agent is sufficient to support the operations of the service center for up to three months, Ismail added.
Automotive: Japan’s Yazaki Opens 4th Factory in Morocco
Strengthening its industrial presence in Morocco, Japan’s automotive supplier Yazaki on Wednesday inaugurated its fourth factory in the North African country. The factory will also be the company’s second factory in Kenitra, near Rabat.
Read more via Morocco World News
Morocco, a pioneer in the development of ultra-fast charging of electric car batteries
Morocco is at the forefront of ultra-fast charging of electric car batteries thanks to the contribution of researcher Rachid Yazami. The Moroccan inventor was present at the Digital Energy Smart Battery Forum held in Casablanca and gave a presentation on the intelligent development planned for this type of electric vehicle charging.
How OFM intends to build Africa’s largest car inventory database and management system
Otunba Fawaz Motors (OFM) is a Nigerian B2B digital inventory database and management system of used cars which helps dealers, merchants, and middlemen in the African automotive industry better coordinate sales and make business easier.
Startups on WorldStage series: Autochek leverages on local partners’ uniqueness to build for their markets
Autochek, Nigeria’s automotive technology startup that is into online cars financing in major cities across Africa has given the credit of its success to the strategy of empowering local teams to build for their markets.
Read more via World Stage News
Nigeria’s budding electric vehicle market could benefit from our products – Romco Group CEO
Raymond Onovwigun is the founder and chief executive officer of Romco Group. His company processes and trades in the global non-ferrous metal market by recycling more than 5,000 tonnes of non-ferrous scrap, mostly aluminum and copper. Founded in 2015, Romco is dedicated to decarbonizing supply chains across the world. Romco aims to access US$50mn in debt and equity to produce 100,000 metric tons a year of secondary metal through the operation of seven plants by 2025.
Kenya Power to purchase electric cars, to phase out fossil-powered cars
Kenya Power has set aside Sh40 million to purchase electric-powered vehicles as it moves to phase out fossil-powered cars from its fleet. In a statement today, the power distributor noted that it will purchase three electric vehicles in the current financial year ending June 2023.
Think smart: 4 EV leadership lessons from emobility’s brightest minds
With politicians squabbling over key climate targets and critics pointing to a lack of clarity from the pledges of COP26, the battle to ensure a carbon-free future is drifting away. The provision of accessible, affordable, and sustainable electric vehicles (EVs) is the cornerstone of these efforts, yet this also suffers from an acute lack of leadership. The so-called ‘Green Premium’ price of low carbon alternatives has dominated many high-level conversations. As campaigner Bill Gates points out, where the premium is high (as with EV adoption), innovation must close the price gap.
Read more via Automotive World
Europe’s cars get a second life in Africa, but at a cost
Africa is the world’s biggest destination for used vehicles. More than a quarter of second-hand autos exported between 2015 and 2020, or 5.6 million vehicles, ended up on the continent, according to the UN.
Read more via The Citizen Tanzania
Calls for government to finalise SA’s new energy vehicle policy Asap
South Africa needs to look beyond just the production of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and stimulate demand for them – and there must be price parity between the import duties charged on these and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, says Mark Raine, co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars and executive director of Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA).
Dave Coffey – CEO – African Association of Automotive Manufacturers – ceo@
Victoria Backhaus-Jerling – Head of Project Office, South Africa – VDA-AAAM
Issaka Tetteh – Project Manager, ECOWAS Region – VDA-AAAM Partner Africa