Building strategic collaborative partnerships focused on enhancing testing facilities, technological capabilities, and standards is key to the success of the South African automotive supply chain.
The Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC Eastern Cape) has formed a partnership with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) through the recent signing of a MOU. The MOU is a part of the AIDC EC’s strategy to position the automotive supply chain for growth and innovation, particularly electric vehicle technology.
The MOU outlines several joint projects, including: A collaborative programme with other Eastern Cape-based institutions focused on identifying and implementing projects within the EV value chain contributing to the transition of the automotive sector in South Africa.
The enhancement of the SABS East London facility to offer testing in both EV and ICE technology, as a resource to the continent’s supply chain and its efforts at regional integration, a key pillar of the SA Automotive Masterplan.
The repurposing of available buildings at the SABS East London facility will serve as an automotive incubator, which is intended to complement current services and expand to future services in the EV and related technology space.
AIDC EC CEO, Thabo Shenxane, noted that ,“The alignment of automotive manufacturing-related agencies, OEMs and its supply chain towards the sector’s priorities is critical to the ability of South Africa to compete globally in the future automotive manufacturing landscape.’’
He added, “Automotive production is in the process of radical and accelerated change, driven by technology and alternate energy. As South Africa’s automotive volumes are driven by export demand predominantly, the country and the Eastern Cape, which is South Africa’s most prolific vehicle exporter, are highly vulnerable to changes in demand in these export markets – currently mostly from Europe.’’
NAACAM says it looks forward to the outcomes of the partnership between the AIDC EC and the SABS and the impact the joint projects will have on the South African automotive supply chain and sector.
Contact: Thabo Shenxane (CEO) [email protected] or 041 393-2100 to learn more about the various aspects of the partnership between the AIDC Eastern Cape and the South African Bureau of Standards.
To read more about the recently signed MOU follow this link: https://bit.ly/3rs0z8F
Learn more about the AIDC EC here https://aidcec.co.za/