AUTOFORUM

Senior 10 member delegation from Zimbabwean Motor Industry visits a cross section of SA Automotive sector

Apr 30, 2026 Zimbabwe Motor Industry Delegation, NAACAM, MIBCO, NUMSA, PAIH, BAIC, FAW TRUCKS SOUTH AFRICA, AUTO X, GUD HOLDINGS, GUD Filters, MAHINDRA SOUTH AFRICA, AIH, SAFELINE Brakes, MISA

Senior 10 member delegation from Zimbabwean Motor Industry visits a cross section of SA Automotive sector

Autoforum proudly facilitated and hosted a 10 member delegation of senior personnel from Employers and Employees bodies, as well as an official from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Zimbabwe, on a tour of selected Vehicle assembly plants, component manufacturers and representative industry bodies in Johannesburg, Gqerbeha and Durban, from 13 to 17 April.

In a busy schedule designed to give the delegates an insight and wider understanding of some of the individual sectors, and their influence and relationship within the SA Automotive industry. A number of the delegates form part of the team tasked with analysing the current Zimbabwean Motor Industry Development Plan (ZMIDP) in terms of an alignment with Global, Regional and South African trends and direction in the automotive industry, in order for Zimbabwe to have a more positive role in the ambitions for the sector.

With the tight time constraints imposed by their schedule, the Zimbabwean delegation was grateful and very appreciative of the Mahindra XUV 700 vehicles and driver, kindly supplied by MAHINDRA South Africa for the duration of their trip, allowing an efficient and effective means of shuttling delegates to and from their hotel, meetings and airport transfers timeously and in comfort.

The group kicked off their SA Trip with a visit to Renai Moothilal and his team at NAACAM, for a highly informative presentation on the auto component manufacturing sector and the role it plays in SA Auto Industry and the local economy as a whole. The delegation found a number of takeaways from this meeting to apply to their current deliberations.

They next met with MIBCO’s Paulos Masemole and his team, who provided valuable insight into the role of MIBCO and its functions in our local industry. All of the delegates requested copies of the presentation, as well as contact details to further these discussions ongoing.

The Group then split, with the employee representatives meeting with Irvin Jim at NUMSA, whilst the employer representatives and government official met with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) staff in SA and participate in an online discussion with their Motor Industry Specialist in Poland. This meeting provided valuable insights into the rise and growth of Poland’s automotive sector both within Europe and Globally.

Immediately after these meetings, the group reconvened at OR Tambo to fly to Gqerbeha/PE and prepare for their scheduled SKD/CKD assembly and Battery manufacturing plants tours the next day. An early start on day two saw the delegation on a detailed tour of the BAIC and FOTON semi-automated assembly plant, allowing the delegates to garner first-hand knowledge of current capacity of BAIC’s assembly line and quality standards, before taking the popular opportunity to test drive a range of BAIC vehicles around their in-house test track at the facility.

A short trip later, had the delegation being welcomed to the FAW TRUCKS SOUTH AFRICA assembly plant by Rassie Erasmus (not the Springbok coach!), for a short presentation on the history of FAW, before embarking on a tour through the training centre and into the largely manual truck assembly plant – where the delegates were impressed by number of skilled and semi-skilled workers with impressive years of loyal service in the company, on the assembly line. Delegates were offered the opportunity to climb aboard the finished vehicles and experience the finished product after having followed the assembly processes from bare chassis to completion.

In the shuttle transfer at the completion of this tour comment and discussion around the ambitions of both trade and government to rekindle vehicle assembly in Zimbabwe, and what would be required in terms of upskilling the workforce, as well the commitment and investment required from all parties in preparing the current available facilities, to achieve these ambitions.

The group were then introduced to Kelvin Naidoo, their host at the AUTO X Battery manufacturing plant. Having gratefully enjoyed a late lunch, the delegates were presented with insights into the company and manufacturing of the various battery brands within AUTO X Group. For most of the delegates, the insightful and impressive tour of the manufacturing plant, its R&D, Quality control and testing facilities which followed, provided valued off-takes to their current understanding of component manufacturing. The conversations around battery technology and the impact of lithium batteries in BEV vehicles and the natural deposits of raw lithium and its beneficiation in Zimbabwe, were insightful. The company’s core values and focus on the health and safety of its staff, as well as, the impact of its products and manufacturing plant on the environment, struck a chord with a number of the delegates.

Early morning on day three had the Group flying into Durban, KZN and gratefully being transferred from their hotel in a GUD HOLDINGS sponsored shuttle to be welcomed by Stuart McMillan, GM – Africa, at the GUD Filter manufacturing plant in Prospecton. Stuart and his team hosted the delegation to lunch, before presenting an overview of the GUD Holdings Group, its Brands and products. The delegates expressed a keen interest in the manufacture of recognised quality filters and the impact of poor quality and counterfeit filters that had infiltrated the market in Zimbabwe in the past. Questions were asked about the difficulties in identifying these types of filters, in terms of protecting the reputations of those Zimbabwean businesses distributing and fitting poor quality products unknowingly. The tour through this impressive manufacturing plant certainly helped the delegates understand the manufacturing process and the differences in the composition of the components in a quality filter. The group was amazed at flood levels achieved in devastating floods and how the staff and company were able to react and recover capacity in such a relatively short time period.

The morning of day four had the delegation graciously being hosted by Dr. Henry Grimbeek on behalf of MAHINDRA SOUTH AFRICA, to an informative presentation on the MAHINDRA SKD Assembly facility at Dube Trade Port, on the perimeter of King Shaka airport. After a refreshment and comfort break the delegates were treated to a guided tour of the SKD plant, its adjacent storage facility and on-site quality control test track.

Dr. Grimbeek pointed out the efficiencies achieved via the constant monitoring of quality and process alongside an upskilled workforce, in this new SKD facility. Delegates commented on the impressive roll-off times of a completed vehicle, when all the processes were taken into account. Comment surrounded the suitability of this type of assembly in the Zimbabwean environment should the importation of used ‘Grey imports’ and demand levels be addressed.

After lunch, the delegates returned to the facility’s meeting room for and online presentation and discussion with Johan de Jager from AIH, who are contracted to set up and run this SKD facility on behalf of MAHINDRA. After overviewing his company and their experience and expertise worldwide in commissioning and managing assembly facilities, the following discussions led to a tentative arrangement for the delegation to add an additional meeting in Johannesburg on Saturday before their return to Zimbabwe.

At the completion of this meeting, the delegation flew back to Johannesburg in preparation for their final day of scheduled meetings of day five. Once again the MAHINDRA vehicles and driver were on hand to transfer the group whilst in Johannesburg and delivered the delegates to their first meeting on Friday at the new MAHINDRA Warehouse in Midrand, for a brief introduction and tour of this well stocked facility. On completion of the warehouse tour, delegates were overheard commenting on how impressive the stock levels to support both the aftermarket and assembly plant requirements were, and how ‘impressive and confidence inspiring’ it is to see the brands commitment to supporting its product and customers. ‘This warehouse and its stock levels – tell me MAHINDRA is here to stay and grow the brand.’

Within the strict schedule, the Mahindra shuttles delivered the delegation across the city to the SAFELINE Brake manufacturing plant. Safeline is a member of the GUD Holdings Group of companies, which is also a proud member of NAACAM. The staff of the Safeline manufacturing plant received the delegation with generous refreshments and an insightful overview of the company and its products, before conducting the group through the product testing facility and an informative step by step tour of the plant and its processes. Many of the delegates were completely unaware of the manufacturing processes and quality controls applied to these safety critical components to ensure vehicle and customer safety is non-negotiable. A few of the delegates queried the change in product packaging, stating that they missed the previous plastic product containers as they had become valued storage and food transport containers once the brake pads had been fitted, They commented that Safeline was top of mind long after product fitment due to this second life usage of the containers!

The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) graciously hosted the final scheduled meeting of the delegation amidst their annual MISA Golf Day in support of Prostate Cancer. The MISA executives and Zimbabwean delegates found the meeting to be mutually educational in terms of the similarities and differences in the employee/employer relationships and regulations governing both countries. Both parties expressed the desire to continue with the contact and further the discussions and understanding between them. The MISA invited the delegates to join them as guests after the meeting at the prize giving and dinner event for their Golf Day – a welcome conclusion to the delegates South Africa Trip.

According to one of the delegates, Mr Luckson Gwara, vice president of MIAZ, the visitation was an overall success, with invaluable insights into some the sectors in our industry – that can be translated into a clearer understanding of the automotive sector and the positive role that could be played by Zimbabwe in the ambitions for the region and continent.