All Africa articles – Page 4
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FeatureOpel signs deal with Unitrans for distribution of cars in South Africa
Opel has signed a deal with Unitrans Automotive for the import and retail of its vehicles in South Africa from the beginning of January.The move follows Groupe PSA’s acquisition of Opel and Vauxhall for €2.2 billion ($2.6 billion) from GM earlier this year. Previously, Opel distribution in South Africa was ...
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FeatureSkiaker steps down as CEO of Höegh Autoliners following US fines
Ingar Skiaker (pictured) has decided to step down after six years as CEO of Höegh Autoliners, following the company’s recent settlement with US authorities in a price-fixing investigation.Ivar Myklebust, chief financial officer since 2014, will take on the CEO role from December 1st, while Skiaker, a 30-year company veteran, will ...
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FeaturePSA Group signs agreement to create manufacturing facilities in Algeria
PSA Group has signed an agreement in Algeria for a production joint venture in which it will invest €100m ($118m) and take a 49% interest.The agreement was signed as part of the France-Algeria joint economic committee (COMEFA), in the presence of Youcef Yousfi, Algerian minister of industry and mining, and ...
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FeatureBMW seeks to improve transparency in battery cell supply chain
After participating in the Responsible Cobalt Initiative (RCI) last year, BMW Group has taken further steps to improve transparency in its battery cell supply chain by promising to release information on smelters and countries of origin for raw materials by the end of this year.The carmaker also plans to release ...
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FeatureToyota shuts South African plant after ‘significant damage’ from flooding
Toyota was forced to shut its manufacturing plant near Durban in South Africa this week after a massive storm hit the region resulting in ‘unprecedented flooding’.In a statement on Tuesday, following the storm, Andrew Kirby, president and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors, confirmed that there was “significant damage” to ...
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FeatureVolkswagen Group part 2: Talking ‘then and now’ with head of group logistics, Thomas Zernechel
The group’s head of group logistics talks about the major changes seen over the past two decades – and why he is optimistic about the future of logistics
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FeatureRo-ro carrier faces fine for anti-competitive behaviour in South Africa
Norwegian ro-ro carrier Höegh Autoliners has been referred to South Africa’s Competition Tribunal for charges relating to collusive tendering, price-fixing and market division.The country’s Competition Commission, which referred the case, is seeking an order obliging the company to pay an administrative penalty equal to 10% of its annual turnover on ...
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FeatureVW begins assembly at joint venture plant in Algeria with Sovac
Following last November’s announcement that VW was setting up a joint venture with its local partner in Algeria, Sovac, for the assembly of VW Group vehicles, the two companies have held an inauguration of the plant in Relizane, 280km south of the capital Algiers.VW will begin by supplying semi knockdown ...
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FeatureMiddle East and Africa: Ford opens up the highways
An army marches on its stomach, Napoleon is reputed to have said, in perhaps one of history’s earliest endorsements of the wisdom of sound logistics infrastructure. These days, as those in the automotive industry know, good logistics in the marketplace is often the key to winning business and meeting the ...
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FeatureSentech to close Port Elizabeth site in wake of GM’s exit from South Africa
The Sentech automotive parts plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is to close by the end of September. The move follows General Motors’ (GM) recent announcement that it would cease manufacturing and selling Chevrolets in the country by the end of the year.Describing the OEM’s recent announcement as “sudden”, Treve ...
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FeatureFord announces further leadership changes
Ford has announced a swathe of further global leadership changes, just days after Jim Hackett was named as the carmaker’s new president and CEO.The changes have also been made to support the newly appointed leaders of the revamped organisational structure, which includes global markets, global operations and mobility.Hau Thai-Tang (pictured) ...
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FeatureGM restricts production in India to exports and exits South Africa after 90 years
General Motors has announced further restructuring of its international businesses, including moving to an export-only production model in India and exiting the South African market altogether.Poor sales, margins and a lack of scale in the supply chain have contributed to the decisions. They follow a recent pattern at GM of ...
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FeaturePSA Group to start assembling cars in Kenya again
The signing ceremony took place at the Kenyan State House, the president's official residence in NairobiFrench carmaker PSA Group is to begin producing Peugeot vehicles in Kenya from June this year. The news marks a return to the East African country for the company, which last assembled Peugeot cars ...
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FeatureMann+Hummel to open aftermarket logistics centre in South Africa
Mann+Hummel, the German filtration parts supplier, is to open an aftermarket logistics centre in Johannesburg in January, following the establishment of its office there in November. It is the first time the company has had its own premises in Africa.The firm said the establishment of business in Africa was part ...
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Feature2016 in review: takeovers, disputes and political upheaval
The year 2016 may well go down as one of the most significant in recent history – not just politically but also for the automotive supply chain. Surprise voting results in the US and Europe have created significant uncertainty regarding global trade that may go on for years and is ...
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FeaturePSA to assemble pick-up trucks in Tunisia for local market
PSA Group has announced a deal with its long-term partner in Tunisia, STAFIM, to assemble and sell a Peugeot pick-up truck in the North African country.The French carmaker said the assembly plant would start operations in mid-2018 and produce about 1,200 vehicles a year for the Tunisian market. PSA generates ...
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FeatureVolkswagen to start assembly in Algeria in Sovac joint venture
Pictured from left: Dr. Josef Baumert, member of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles board of management responsible for production and logistics; Abdesselam Bouchouareb, Algerian minister of industry; and Mourad Oulmi, CEO of SovacVolkswagen is setting up a joint venture with its local partner in Algeria for the assembly of VW, ...
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FeatureSA government incentive review “nothing extraordinary”, says Naamsa
The announcement of a review of government incentives within the South African finance ministry’s recent mid-term budget statement is “nothing extraordinary”, according to the country’s automobile manufacturing body.A section of the budget statement released on Wednesday October 26th said: “Given increased pressures on the fiscus, these incentives, including direct transfers, ...
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FeatureVW chief warns of ‘immediate end to South Africa’s motor industry’ if incentives are reduced and ownership targets are enforced
Motor manufacturers will leave South Africa if the government reduces the current incentive scheme while moving to penalise them for a lack of black equity holders and suppliers, the head of Volkswagen’s operation in the country has warned.Volkswagen South Africa MD Thomas Schäfer said recent discussions with the government revealed ...
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FeatureNYK extends its scope in East Africa and Asia
NYK Group has signed an agreement with Bolloré Transport & Logistics Kenya and Toyota Tsusho to establish Bolloré NYK Auto Logistics, a new joint venture in Kenya to handle imported vehicles.By the end of this year, the new joint venture will offer a variety of services at the port of ...