ISUZU Motors South Africa won the Overall Exporter of the Year Award at the 2024 Exporters Eastern Cape gala banquet held earlier this month in Gqeberha. The award highlights Isuzu’s outstanding commitment to excellence, sustainability, and growth agenda in South Africa and the African continent.
Since its establishment in 2018, Isuzu has been a driving force in the automotive sector in the Eastern Cape region and South Africa, exporting to 26 markets across sub-Saharan Africa. The company has achieved remarkable success, doubling its exports in the 1-ton pick-up segment and growing its sales volume by 26% year-on-year, reinforcing its leadership across African markets.
Celestin Ndhlovu, vice president of planning, marketing and corporate affairs at Isuzu Motors South Africa, commented: “Winning the Overall Exporter of the Year Award is a significant achievement for Isuzu Motors South Africa. This recognition reflects the company’s dedication to innovation, excellence, and unwavering commitment to expanding our footprint across Africa. We are proud to play a pivotal role in contributing to the economic growth of the Eastern Cape and South Africa.”
In addition to being named the overall winner, Isuzu won Best Exporter OEM and Merit Awards in the SJM Flex Environmental and the IDC Job Creator categories.
Isuzu’s commitment to transformation is evident through its achievement of a Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) status for five consecutive years. This milestone underscores Isuzu ‘s dedication to fostering meaningful partnerships across its value chain, from large enterprises to small and medium-sized businesses. Over R9 million has been invested in developing black-owned suppliers, demonstrating Isuzu’s commitment to driving transformation and creating sustainable growth across industries.
In addition to its focus on transformation, Isuzu continues to champion sustainability. The company has reduced its water consumption per vehicle by 71% over the last five years and maintains a zero-to-landfill status at its manufacturing facilities. Furthermore, in 2023, Isuzu introduced Euro 5 emission standard trucks and its first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) truck, solidifying its commitment to reducing its environmental impact.
This award follows a series of accolades for Isuzu, including being South Africa’s number one manufacturer in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segments for 11 consecutive years, the company said.
