30
Mechanical Technology — August 2014
⎪
Manufacturing technology and plant automation
⎪
M
ooted as “momentous
event in SA’s Automotive
Industry history” the first
FAW commercial vehicle
built in South Africa rolled off the as-
sembly line at the FAW Vehicle Manu-
facturers SA production plant at Coega
in the Eastern Cape on 10 July 2014.
With South African president, Jacob
Zuma, in attendance together with nu-
merous dignitaries from the Government
of China, the country saw the culmina-
tion of a US$60-million investment in
the Eastern Cape.
Says Zuma: “Following our BRICS
trade agreements, this massive invest-
ment by a Chinese Corporation augers
well for the future of this partnership
between our countries. Today’s FAW
Coega plant opening has the added
advantage that South Africa remains
seen as an investment destination of
choice. This is an example to other
global companies, which can rest as-
sured that the South African govern-
ment is doing everything possible to
maintain its world-class offering as a
springboard into unlocking potential on
the African continent.
Turning attention to power and
labour issues, he adds: “Our focus
in the next five years is to provide a
sustainable energy mix for the country.
Energy security is key to enhancing SA’s
global competitiveness. And as far as
the current strike in the metal industries
is concerned, I trust that this will be
resolved amicably, without violence,
reaching a speedy resolution. This is
in the interest of all of South Africa.”
Zuma sees the opening of the FAW
plant in Coega as “a remarkable ex-
ample of the positive co-operation that
we as South Africans can attract from
South Africa, the Eastern Cape and
the Coega IDZ are set for rapid growth
as Chinese vehicle manufacturer FAW
Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd
officially opens its plant.
The first FAW commercial vehicle built in South Africa rolled off the assembly line at
the FAW Coega plant on 10 July 2014.
Jacob Zuma and other dignitaries on a tour of the FAW Coega plant, which is a 103 000 m
2
site
with 28 000 m
2
under roof.
FAW makes history in South Africa
foreign investors” and believes that in-
vestments such as these are “imperative
to job creation, our growth and future
prosperity”.
Minister of Trade and Industries,
Rob Davies, in his address indicated
that FAW’s decision to build commer-
cial vehicles locally from completely
knocked down kits (CKD), the first
OEM to do so in South Africa across
its entire range, is a clear indication
that government’s plan to extend the
Automotive Production Development
Plan (APDP) to commercial vehicle
CKD manufacturers, bus manufacturers
and local component manufacturing
industry, will attract further expansion
in the automotive industry.
Mr Qin Huanming, vice president
of the China FAW Group Corporation,
together with Jacob Zuma and Rob
Davies, attended to the official ribbon-
cutting ceremony as the first locally
produced FAW Truck rolled off the
Coega plant production line.
“As a shining pearl on the African
continent, South Africa enjoys sound
political, economic and legal systems,
as well as excellent infrastructure and
abundant labour resources. These fa-
vourable conditions have strengthened
FAW’s confidence to invest in South
Africa,” says Huanming.
The decision to build the FAW plant
