Isuzu Targets South Africa as Truck Hub

Zim Now Writer

Isuzu Motors South Africa is positioning itself as the heartbeat of commercial truck production on the continent, with plans to transfer more vehicle manufacturing from Japan to its local plant.

President and CEO Billy Tom, speaking in Sandton last week, confirmed ongoing talks with Isuzu’s global headquarters to cement the shift. “We’re saying to them, instead of producing vehicles in Japan, you’ve got a facility in Africa. We can produce the vehicles here,” Tom said.

The company has already tested local assembly of a truck and its body, though some bodies are still sourced from China and the Middle East.

The South African plant currently produces the Isuzu D-MAX pickup, assembles medium-heavy and extra-heavy trucks, and imports the MU-X SUV for African markets.

While truck exports remain limited, Isuzu’s pickups are already sold in more than 30 African countries. The next phase will focus on West Africa, before rolling out to the rest of the continent.

Africa’s share of Isuzu South Africa’s output has steadily increased, rising from about 15% six years ago to roughly 23% today. The company’s target is to nearly double that figure to 45%.

Tom pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area as a game-changer. Although fewer than half of the 49 ratifying countries are trading under zero-tariff rules, the framework promises to stimulate intra-African trade and automotive growth.

Isuzu’s strategy comes at a critical time for South Africa’s auto industry, which is under pressure from a surge of low-cost Chinese imports. Local automakers including Volkswagen, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz are rethinking their production strategies to safeguard volumes.

Trade Minister Parks Tau recently raised concerns that local content in the industry has stagnated at 39%, well below the 60% target for 2035 under the Automotive Masterplan.

The same policy seeks to raise annual vehicle production to between 1.3 million and 1.5 million units by 2035, more than double the current 600,000.

Tom cautioned that unless the industry adapts, South Africa risks deindustrialisation. Imported vehicles already account for 64% of sales, prompting government’s trade administration body to investigate their impact on local manufacturing.