In a major step forward for regional logistics and sustainable transport, Scania Southern Africa has officially inaugurated its new Regional Product Centre (RPC), a purpose-built facility that reinforces the company's commitment to innovation, reliability, and environmental responsibility. Juanita Pienaar spoke with Erik Bergvall, Managing Director of Scania Southern Africa, and Christian Håkansson, RPC Manager at Scania South Africa, to unpack what this milestone means for the future of transport in the region.
A strategic investment in the region’s future
The launch of the RPC comes at a symbolic time - Scania marks 30 years of operations in South Africa in 2025. Rather than simply commemorating the past, the company is putting its focus squarely on the future.
“Marking 30 years in South Africa with the launch of the RPC is deeply symbolic,” says Bergvall. “It’s a tangible investment in the future of transport in this region - and a demonstration of our long-term confidence in Southern Africa’s potential. We’re not here to participate; we’re here to lead.”
Located in close proximity to the company’s recently relocated head office in Constantia Kloof, the RPC stands as a beacon of progress and ambition. It has been designed from the ground up to enhance Scania’s local assembly capability, streamline operations, and support the broader regional network with improved service delivery.
Tailored for efficiency and flexibility
At the heart of the RPC’s design is a commitment to lean, flexible manufacturing. The facility is built on Scania’s modular production system, enabling it to handle a diverse product mix while maintaining efficiency and ergonomic excellence at every station.
“Our quality assurance processes are digitised and fully integrated with global Scania systems,” explains Håkansson. “We use modular production techniques that allow for a high degree of flexibility, even with a varied product mix. Each station in the production line is designed for optimal ergonomics and efficiency.”
This flexibility isn’t just about technical adaptability - it’s a strategic choice to ensure that Scania can respond to evolving market demands, regulatory frameworks, and customer expectations, including future transitions to alternative powertrains.
Sustainability from the ground up
Scania’s brand promise rests on three pillars: innovation, sustainability, and reliability. The RPC exemplifies all three, but it is in the sustainability space that the new facility really shines.
“Sustainability is a guiding principle at the RPC,” says Håkansson. “The facility operates with strict resource efficiency targets - from energy and water use to waste management. We’ve implemented responsible disposal systems, environmentally friendly paints and fluids, and we source certain materials locally to reduce transport emissions.”
By assembling vehicles locally, Scania is also reducing transport-related emissions and shortening lead times. This not only improves environmental performance but also enhances responsiveness to market shifts and regulatory requirements.
“The RPC is a direct embodiment of Scania’s brand promise,” adds Bergvall. “This investment is not just about infrastructure - it’s a strategic reinforcement of everything our brand stands for.”
Meeting local challenges with local solutions
Southern Africa presents both significant opportunities and complex logistical challenges. Long lead times due to global supply chains and inconsistent vehicle availability are common pain points in the region. The RPC was conceived as a direct response.
“One of the main challenges is vehicle availability and long lead times due to global supply chain dependencies,” says Håkansson. “The RPC was designed to address these pain points directly - bringing production closer to the market, enhancing flexibility, and ultimately improving service to our customers.”
This proximity to market enables shorter delivery timelines, greater product availability, and improved alignment with customer-specific requirements. Scania now has tighter control over production timelines and better visibility into inventory management - two critical factors for high-pressure logistics environments.
Strengthening the regional network
More than just a standalone facility, the RPC serves as a cornerstone in Scania’s broader operational framework across Southern Africa. By improving local assembly, the company is enhancing inventory stability, parts availability, and the overall efficiency of its dealer and service network.
“The RPC acts as a backbone for our entire regional network,” explains Bergvall. “It enables more stable inventory levels, faster vehicle rollouts, and more consistent parts availability. That stability cascades through our dealer and service network, enabling better planning, responsiveness, and uptime for our customers.”
Håkansson adds: “Customers will see quicker vehicle availability, reduced turnaround times on custom orders, and a more stable supply of parts. These improvements reduce operational risk and improve fleet utilisation, which is especially important in the Southern African transport sector.”
Built for what’s next
Looking to the future, the RPC gives Scania the infrastructure and scalability to continue innovating. As alternative drivetrains and advanced digital systems gain traction, Scania is well positioned to lead the transition.
“We’ve built in capabilities for scalable future upgrades - whether that’s new driveline technologies or enhanced automation,” says Håkansson. “We are also focusing on digitisation with an increased focus on our TACT system, which will be used to manage deviations, quality checks, and more.”
Bergvall sees the RPC as “a foundational asset for our next chapter” - one that will empower Scania to continue shaping industry standards, driving sustainability, and delivering customer-focused solutions.
The road ahead
Scania’s long-term vision for Southern Africa is clear: deepen commitment, innovate with purpose, and create real value for customers and communities.
“Our focus remains on deepening our commitment to Southern Africa - through customer-centric innovation, service excellence, and strategic investment,” says Bergvall. “We’re exploring opportunities to expand our training and skills development initiatives, further localise our supply chain, and continue advocating for policy frameworks that support cleaner, safer, and more efficient transport.”
As Scania Southern Africa celebrates three decades of presence in the region, the opening of the RPC marks not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a bold new phase - one where local solutions meet global standards, and sustainable transport becomes a shared reality.
