The Department of Trade and Industry (dti), its automotive social partners, labour and business have committed to work together to ensure the long-term stability of the sector. The dti met with stakeholders in the automotive sector on Thursday, where they agreed to work together towards ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the sector, including deepening the value chain, ensuring the long-term stability of supply and productivity. "As an indication of all stakeholders' commitment to … [Read more...] about Automotive sector endorses dti initiative
automotive
Business Chamber pleased at end of strike
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber is pleased by the news that workers in the automotive components sector, who have been on strike for four weeks, will be returning to work today (Monday 7 October 2013). The business community has expressed its deepest concerns at the length of the current strikes, as well as at the knock-on impact this has on all sectors of the economy in a time when South Africa should be pulling together to restore confidence post recession and building an image that … [Read more...] about Business Chamber pleased at end of strike
Parties urged to resolve motor industry strike
Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has condemned the violence in the on-going motor industry strike, and has also called on parties to speed up negotiations. Oliphant said the country's laws guarantee the right to protest, but cautioned that every right must be exercised with responsibility. "I therefore urge those that are involved in these acts of violence to refrain from such behaviour. "This undermines genuine workers' demands and peaceful collective bargaining. The trade union … [Read more...] about Parties urged to resolve motor industry strike
AIDC marks it’s 10th anniversary
The AIDC, mandated by government and established in 2003 to assist the automotive industry become more globally competitive, marked its 10th anniversary with an industry briefing in Nelson Mandela Bay today. The AIDC annually places more than 50 engineers into the Eastern Cape's automotive manufacturing sector free of charge following an agreement with government's R9bn Job Fund. … [Read more...] about AIDC marks it’s 10th anniversary
Eastern Cape Auto Cluster leads the way
In a bid to increase levels of global competitiveness, component manufacturers in the automotive hub of Nelson Mandela Bay have spent a week engaging with one of the world’s leading proponents of Total Productive Maintenance. The Eastern Cape Automotive Cluster, which is pioneering the Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) approach to manufacturing in South Africa, has been undergoing intensive training with Automotive Industry Development Centre engineers and TPM expert Rajesh Parim, … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Auto Cluster leads the way
The impact of revised BEE codes on the automotive industry
With the revised codes of good practice scheduled to be gazetted in August or September 2013, businesses continue to be in limbo regarding some of the revisions in this important transformation legislation. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has held a number of sessions after the close of the public commentary process to further understand and at the same time convince businesses and industries to comment and or accept DTI’s rationale on a number of points that are in dispute. DTI, … [Read more...] about The impact of revised BEE codes on the automotive industry
Boosting Automotive Worker Wellness
The Ford Struandale Engine Plant, GMSA & VWSA are throwing their weight behind a unique programme to boost the wellness of workers within the automotive supply chain of Africa's largest automotive manufacturing city, Nelson Mandela Bay. The Programme driven by the AIDC Eastern Cape supported by the GIZ (German Development agency) with the participation of the three large automotive employers, aims to re-double wellness resources with a special focus on HIV& AIDS of up to 1500 workers … [Read more...] about Boosting Automotive Worker Wellness
Joy for VWSA and GMSA as new vehicle sales soar in January
New vehicle sales registered substantial gains in the first month of the year, growing by 14.1% compared to the 48 202 vehicles sold in January last year, said the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). This followed on the positive sales performance seen throughout 2012. On Monday, Naamsa said that all major segments recorded double digit year-on-year growth, with new cars growing by 12.3%; light commercials by 20%; medium commercials by 10.6; heavy … [Read more...] about Joy for VWSA and GMSA as new vehicle sales soar in January
Increasing the global competitiveness of local suppliers
In a boost to the automotive industry, the Eastern Cape Automotive Cluster has begun to introduce the internationally acclaimed Total Production Maintenance approach to manufacturing into South Africa. The programme which is the cornerstone of the burgeoning India and Japanese automotive industries is to be piloted at five Nelson Mandela Bay suppliers before an extended roll-out to the Eastern Cape supply chain. Initial participants include CRH Africa, Natstan Wire, Tenneco, Lumotech and SJM … [Read more...] about Increasing the global competitiveness of local suppliers
SA Auto industry to seek “high road” at SAAW conference
South Africa's automotive industry will be mapping the way to the "high" road at the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) conference to be held as part of the third South African Automotive Week (SAAW) to be held in Port Elizabeth in October. "If we don't nurture South Africa's automotive industry, we will see it decline," warns Alfred da Costa, chairperson of the SAAW Working Group. The conference comes at a time of increasing competition from countries in the former Eastern … [Read more...] about SA Auto industry to seek “high road” at SAAW conference
International interest for local automotive expo
More than 75 per cent of the available space for the 2012 South African Automotive Week (SAAW) expo has been taken up, with a number of national and international pavilions booked for the event in October 2012. "There is a lot of international interest in the third SAAW, which is seen as one of the most important meeting places for anyone in the automotive industry who wants to do business in Africa," says Andrew Binning, director of SAAW 2012. Over 300 exhibitors are expected to be … [Read more...] about International interest for local automotive expo
High Profile Chinese Delegation Seeking Local Ties
A high profile Chinese delegation swept into the city this week to foster economic and cultural ties with Nelson Mandela Bay. The delegation from Changchun City, known as the cradle of China's automotive industry, met with industry leaders in manufacturing, agriculture and education before visiting the Coega IDZ. South African Automotive Week director, Andrew Binning, hosted the group on their first visit to the city, after having made contact with them in July on an official visit to … [Read more...] about High Profile Chinese Delegation Seeking Local Ties
Aiming for 3.4 defects per million
The region's automotive and wider manufacturing sector has been strengthened through the availability for the first time of internationally certified Six Sigma process training. According to an agreement between the AIDC Eastern Cape and Port Elizabeth based Network Consulting, the AIDC, an implementing agency of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, will offer training in Six Sigma and certify participants as sought after Yellow, Green and Black Belts. Traditionally manufacturing … [Read more...] about Aiming for 3.4 defects per million
Eastern Cape Automotive Cluster launched
The Eastern Cape automotive cluster support initiative was launched today in Port Elizabeth. Announced by the MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) Mcebisi Jonas earlier this year, the aim of the cluster is to drive a series of priority regional interventions to support the sector. The Eastern Cape is home to four of the country’s Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) - General Motors, Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz and Ford and the local supply … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Automotive Cluster launched
Bigger and Better for SAAW 2012
There is unprecedented local and international interest in the third South African Automotive Week (SAAW), which comes at a time when the global auto industry is looking for new markets and sources of supply, says Andrew Binning, SAAW 2012 project director. "The South African motor industry has put its full support behind South African Automotive Week, and it will host several conferences, match-making appointments and the annual meeting of the National Association of Component and Allied … [Read more...] about Bigger and Better for SAAW 2012
