Vast automotive manufacturing facility breaks ground in Durban
Mahindra Opens Second Assembly Plant in South Africa
Mahindra South Africa has launched a new vehicle assembly plant in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The state-of-the-art facility, located at the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone, is Mahindra's second assembly plant in the country and is designed for flexibility and future expansion.
The new plant has the capacity to assemble over 1,000 single- and double-cab Pik Up pickup trucks per month, with the ability to scale production further as demand grows. The facility is built to Mahindra's global manufacturing standards, featuring advanced quality control systems, expanded production lines, and dedicated customization zones tailored for South African customers.
Currently, the plant focuses on assembling the Pik Up range to meet the strong local demand for budget, reliable pickups. Mahindra is working with local suppliers to increase the share of locally sourced components, supporting local industry and job creation. The plant is operated by Mahindra South Africa and is situated next to Mahindra's original 2018 assembly site in Durban.
The launch of the new plant marks a significant expansion in South Africa's automotive manufacturing landscape. Ethekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development Musa Zondi, Mahindra South Africa CEO Rajesh Gupta, and other dignitaries attended the event. Mayor Xaba praised the new facility as a new chapter for local manufacturing, especially in the automotive sector.
The plant replaces the semi-knocked-down (SKD) setup and is located along the sunny shores of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The opening of the new Durban plant marks Mahindra's third decade in South Africa. The facility is designed with flexibility to accommodate new models that Mahindra plans to introduce in the future, signaling plans for expansion and diversification of production beyond the Pik Up.
This new facility reflects Mahindra's confidence in South Africa as a manufacturing hub and key growth market, committed to long-term investment, job creation, and delivering vehicles suited to South African needs.
The new assembly plant in Durban, operated by Mahindra South Africa, will contribute to the automotive industry in South Africa by manufacturing over 1,000 pickup trucks monthly. This expansion, accompanied by increased local sourcing of components, is poised to bolster the regional finance sector by creating new job opportunities.
