South Africa’s arm of Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors is aiming to become the continent’s commercial truck manufacturing hub, its president said Friday. Billy Tom, President and CEO of Isuzu Motors South Africa, told Reuters he has been discussing plans with Japan to shift production to Africa.
“We’re saying, instead of producing vehicles in Japan, you have a facility in Africa. We can produce the vehicles here,” Tom said. The company has successfully trialled local manufacturing of trucks and their bodies, though some components are still imported from China and the Middle East.
Isuzu’s South African plant currently assembles D-MAX pickups, medium-heavy and extra-heavy commercial trucks, while importing the MU-X SUV for distribution across Africa. Export volumes of trucks remain limited, though Isuzu pickups reach more than 30 African countries, with West Africa targeted as a strategic starting point.
“About six years ago, 15% of my volumes were in Africa. That number is now 22% to 23%, and we aim for 45%,” Tom said. The automaker plans to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area, ratified by 49 countries, despite less than half actively trading under zero-tariff rules.
South Africa’s automotive masterplan seeks 60% local content by 2035, but the figure has stalled at 39%, Minister Parks Tau told delegates this week. The plan also aims to lift production to 1.3–1.5 million vehicles annually from the current 600,000 units, as imports, particularly from China, threaten local production.
“Threats of deindustrialisation are growing, given the rising influx of imports,” Tom warned, as 64% of vehicles sold in South Africa are imported. The government will investigate the impact of imports on domestic manufacturing, aiming to safeguard local industry and bolster Africa’s automotive potential.
