Nov 02, 2025 Polish automotive industry, Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), Polish automotive sector chambers, SDCM, PGM,
Poland on the Map: Strengthening Automotive Ties with South Africa
The Polish automotive sector is developing dynamically. Over the past decades, Polish companies have become reliable business partners and suppliers of top-quality components. It is worth taking a closer look at the specifics of the Polish automotive industry, whose parts can now be easily found in various vehicles of the world's leading brands.
Compared to its European counterparts, Poland remains a relatively little-known import destination for South African distributors. Yet Polish car parts and components power hundreds of thousands of vehicles worldwide and account for a significant share of European exports. The conclusion is clear: cooperation between Polish and South African automotive companies still has vast untapped potential.
To help change this, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) — a government body promoting Poland as a reliable global trade partner — has been actively building connections in South Africa. Through its network of 60 foreign trade offices coordinated from Warsaw, PAIH promotes Polish goods and services, supports foreign investment, and strengthens bilateral business relations. These initiatives have already opened new channels between the two markets, showcasing the technological strength and reliability of Polish manufacturers.
In the automotive sector, promotional efforts have included PAIH’s trade mission to the NAACAM Show 2023, South Africa’s leading event for automotive aftermarket manufacturing and components. The show serves as a key platform for localisation, supplier development, and international partnerships. During the event, PAIH connected Polish component producers with South African industry leaders to explore concrete opportunities within local supply chains and localisation initiatives.
Beyond trade fairs, the annual PAIH Business Forum in Warsaw has also fostered closer cooperation. The 2023 edition facilitated a visit from the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) — a flagship South African project supporting the growth of the local automotive value chain — enabling high-level discussions with Polish manufacturers and technology suppliers.
Poland’s Presence at Automechanika Johannesburg 2024
Building on this momentum, PAIH also organised the Polish National Stand at Automechanika Johannesburg (19–21 November 2024), featuring companies such as Stokota Sp. z o.o., CARLABIMMO sp. z o.o., Novol sp. z o.o., and Kamoka Sp. z o.o. Supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Johannesburg, the delegation showcased innovative Polish products and strengthened ties with local buyers and distributors — further underscoring the growing potential for partnership.
Together, these initiatives highlight the complementary strengths of both countries. With Poland’s advanced component manufacturing and South Africa’s established assembly and distribution networks, deeper collaboration can drive innovation, localisation, and job creation — and pave the way for a stronger, more connected automotive future.
Polish Automotive powered by partnerships
Behind the success of Poland’s automotive sector stands industry associations that represent manufacturers and suppliers. These organizations not only integrate the Polish market but also give it a strong voice in European and global structures. For South African partners, they are key gateways to understanding and entering the Polish automotive ecosystem.
The Polish parts and components for the automotive industry. It is the first association in Poland to unite exclusively Polish manufacturers of automotive parts and accessories. Its mission is to foster growth, support collaboration, and strengthen the global competitiveness of Polish-owned businessesAutomotive Group is the country’s leading cluster of privately owned suppliers of spare. pgm.org.pl
The Association of Automotive Parts Distributors and Producers represents producers, distributors, and service providers active in the Polish automotive parts market. SDCM promotes fair competition, works to improve market standards, and strengthens Poland’s position internationally. As a member of CLEPA and FIGIEFA, two of Europe’s top automotive industry organizations, it plays a vital role in shaping policies and defending the interests of the aftermarket sector across Europe. sdcm.pl
Fueled by Gas: The Polish Way of LPG Engine Technology
Caring for the environment: in 2024, the value of the remanufactured parts market in Poland reached PLN 1.7 billion, growing at a rate of 6.5% annually. One of the specializations of the Polish automotive industry is LPG-powered engine technology. For years, Poland has been the European stronghold of autogas and one of the global leaders in this field. With over 3.5 million LPG-powered vehicles – nearly 13% of the entire car fleet – Poland is the undisputed number one on the continent. What’s more, in 2024, more than 125,000 new vehicles with gas installations were registered in Poland – a figure several times higher than registrations of electric and plug-in hybrid cars.
This strong position is the result of a combination of favorable operating costs, a well-developed refueling infrastructure, and engineering expertise that works directly with OEMs on the development of factory-installed LPG systems. Equally important, LPG is more environmentally friendly – cars powered by this fuel emit on average 12–23% less CO₂ than petrol vehicles, while nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emissions are reduced by 50–75%, and particulate matter by over 80%. In practice, this means that Poland’s LPG fleet saves around 1.16 million tons of CO₂ annually – equivalent to the yearly emissions of an entire city the size of Cape Town, or more than 250,000 additional petrol cars.
Poland not only ensures supply stability and source diversification but also sets quality standards in this industry, proving that Made in Poland in the LPG segment stands for technology that is reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. In this context, visits to companies such as AC SA and Autogaz Alex are of particular importance, as they demonstrate that Polish know-how continues to drive the global LPG market.
“Poland. Business Forward” is the slogan used to promote and support the Polish automotive industry. The Sectoral Program is implemented as part of the “Internationalization of SMEs – Brand HUB” project by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency in co-operation with the Ministry of Development and Technology, within the framework of the “European Funds for the Modern Economy 2021-2027” program. For more information, please contact brandhub@paih.gov.pl.
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