Prime Highlights
- Toyota South Africa completes 77 percent of its R10.4 billion Hilux investment, aiming for full completion by June 2027.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa hails the investment as proof of South Africa’s skilled workforce and investment appeal.
Key Facts
- Automotive sector contributes 5 percent of South Africa’s GDP.
- Toyota leads South Africa’s market for 46th straight year.
Background
Toyota South Africa Motors has completed more than 77 percent of its R10.4 billion investment programme to manufacture the next-generation Hilux pickup, with full completion expected by June 2027.
Pilot production of the new Hilux is starting soon at the company’s Durban facility, marking a major milestone for Toyota and South Africa’s automotive sector. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the investment showcases the strength of South Africa’s skilled workforce and the country’s appeal for long-term, job-creating investment.
Speaking at the line-off unveiling of the ninth-generation Hilux in eThekwini, he said the milestone reflects confidence in South Africa and the value of sustained investment.
About a third of Toyota’s investment has gone toward developing local suppliers, who have committed an additional R2 billion to boost localisation, Ramaphosa said.
He added that the automotive sector contributes 5 percent of South Africa’s GDP, with 115,000 direct manufacturing jobs and more than half a million jobs across the value chain.
The government is strengthening incentives for component manufacturing and supporting new-energy vehicle development, according to Ramaphosa, who said combining local mineral resources with advanced manufacturing could position South Africa as a global hub for future mobility.
Toyota sold 148,124 units in South Africa last year, its best performance since 2007, extending its run as market leader to 46 straight years.
