Watch: Mahindra South Africa celebrates 20 years

Nomonde Zondi|Published

Mahindra management, dignitaries and the team celebrates 20 years since the comany’s establishment in South Africa. Picture: Supplied

MAHINDRA South Africa celebrates 20 years since its establishment in the country in October 2004.

The Indian automobile manufacturing company held a ceremony on Tuesday at the uMhlanga Oyster Box Hotel and took dignitaries on a plant tour at Dube Trade Port.

At the celebrations, a special Pik Up S6 4x4 shared the stage with the dignitaries. This is the 20 000th model to be produced at the South African plant.

CEO Rajesh Gupta said the milestone was achieved six years after they opened their assembly facility on May 25, 2018. He said in these early days, Mahindra set a goal of producing 2 500 Pik Up models a year. However, they have since exceeded the goal by a factor of four.

Mahindra first started producing single cab Pik Up models at the plant before increasing the plant’s capabilities and the complexity of its semi-knocked down line to reach a point where each Pik Up was a complete nuts and bolts assembly

Over time, Mahindra SA added its double cab and special edition models, such as the very popular Karoo Editions to the line-up. Today, all Pik Up models are assembled here.

“The Mahindra assembly facility could rightfully be described as the largest and most complex of its kind on the African continent if one considers single-brand facilities that produce a consistent flow of vehicles every month,” said Gupta.

Moreover, the CEO of the Auto Investment Holdings Group (AIH Group), a company that operates the assembly facility on behalf of Mahindra, Corrie Kotze, said they had worked with Mahindra closely to increase the production output and complexity of the facility.

The High Commissioner of India to South Africa, Shri Prabhat Kumar and Mahindra CEO Rajesh Gupta. Picture: Supplied

“All the intellectual property that we have generated by constantly improving our plan is shared with Mahindra for use in other similar facilities across the globe,” said Kotze.

It was revealed at the ceremony that Mahindra and the AIH Group would start production on a brand-new assembly facility which is expected to be completed by June 2025. Kotze said the facility would cover 14 000 m2 and would redouble Mahindra’s investment in the country.

He said staff would be expanded to meet the growing production volumes. At present, Mahindra employs 90 staff on the assembly line.

The High Commissioner of India to South Africa, Shri Prabhat Kumar, said: “India and South Africa are major trading partners, and nowhere is this more evident than in the automotive industry.”

Kumar said Mahindra was a perfect example of the increase in trade and investment between the two countries, growing in local popularity while constantly increasing its investment in South Africa.

“South Africa’s role as our second home outside of India was emphasised last year when Mahindra unveiled its new global Pik Up concept in South Africa to a global audience,” said Kumar.

Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony was India’s Consul-General to Durban, Dr Thelma John David, and the CEO of Dube Trade Port.

Sunday Tribune

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