Johannesburg - BMW South Africa on Wednesday unveiled a regional facility to distribute parts to its dealers across Southern Africa, in a development described as a sign if commitment to the local economy.
The company's CEO for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Tim Abbott, said the new R260m facility in Midrand was in addition to the R6.1bn which had already been injected by the giant German car into the upgrading of its Rosslyn manufacturing plant.
“This shows our faith in the South African economy. We have also noted the renewed confidence following the recent political changes in the country,” said Abbott.
“But I believe that for us real change would only be visible after the elections next year.”
The distribution centre would hold 600 000 motor parts for timeous delivery to 56 dealers in the region.
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The company already has warehouses in Cape Town and Durban.
In late 2015, BMW announced a R6bn local investment for production of the new generation BMW X3 at its Rosslyn plant, replacing 3-Series production that moves to Mexico.
The company said first vehicles were already “rolling off the line”, in what it described as a “new chapter” in the plant’s history.
The new BMW X3 will be produced for the local market as well as for Europe.
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