AUTOFORUM - Informed and innovative

First Auto Incubation Graduate Announced

Sep 04, 2015 Ford, AIDC, Training, Assembly


The Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) in Gauteng has announced the graduation of its first Automotive Incubation Centre student - Caiphus Mokotedi - from the project's base at Ford's Silverton Assembly Plant.


The Incubation Programme was established by Gauteng provincial government, in conjunction with the AIDC, with the aim of providing manufacturing opportunities for small and medium enterprises to enter the automotive industry.


Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has proudly been part of this initiative since it was launched at the company's Silverton Assembly plant in 2011.


As Jeff Nemeth, President and CEO of Ford Sub Saharan Africa explains: "The incubation programme is focused on enterprise development support to empower SMME's to run sound and sustainable businesses through structured training and mentoring programmes aimed at giving the entrepreneurs the required technical and business acumen skills."


The first graduate of this successful Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) programme, Mokotedi commented: "This project has been an extremely valuable stepping stone for me and I am very grateful for the opportunity that the AIDC and Ford have given me through the Incubation Programme. The training and support have given me the solid grounding to start up my own new business, which will now become an integral part of Ford's manufacturing operations."


Zig Enterprises, headed by Mokotedi, has been awarded the tender for Ford's new Vehicle Personalisation Centre (VPC) which is located adjacent to the Silverton Assembly Plant. This facility gives Ranger customers the opportunity to equip their vehicles at factory level to suit specific needs and requirements. The facility is subject to the same error-proofing systems as the manufacturing facility, to ensure the highest levels of quality.


Once the accessories are fitted, the Ranger undergoes the standard final testing and sign-off procedures before being shipped to the dealer.


Back