JAPANESE ambassador to South Africa Norio Maruyama recently visited Isuzu Motors South Africa’s (IMSAf) manufacturing plant in Struandale at Gqeberha, one of only three manufacturing operations on the continent to produce Isuzu vehicles.
Topping the agenda was the upcoming launch this year of the new generation Isuzu D-MAX and the local operation took the opportunity to showcase the company’s investment in a new assembly line to support its manufacture.
“As Japan, we have invested in South Africa and we are always keen to meet with our business partners. I believe in the automotive industry because it creates jobs, and those jobs are imperative in improving livelihoods. What we have seen here at Isuzu today is impressive,” Maruyama said.
Billy Tom, President and CEO of Isuzu Motors South Africa said the investment, made in 2019, was a demonstration of the confidence Isuzu has in this business and the African market.
“We have a plan to launch the new generation vehicles, and this will be coupled with an implementation of measures to increase our domestic share in our exports into Sub- Saharan Africa markets,” Tom added.
