Toyota SA to invest R363 million

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) is to invest R363 million in a new Parts Distribution Warehouse in the Ekurhuleni municipality. The warehouse is being developed in two phases and will serve TSAM's local and export markets.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The new warehouse represents the largest single investment by TSAM in the Gauteng Province and it follows a five-year, R8 billion investment programme into its manufacturing facilities in Prospecton, Durban.

When completed the new facility will cover 80 000m² and will be the largest of its kind in Africa.

"The development of a distribution warehouse of this size and scale is one of the clearest signs that we are committed to South Africa and intent on remaining South Africa's most popular vehicle manufacturer," says Dr. Johan van Zyl, president and CEO of TSAM.

Enhanced service

According to Van Zyl the new warehouse will allow the company to further improve the availability of service and replacement parts on all of its vehicles, while the efficiencies gained from its world class management systems will serve to contain the cost of these parts.

He said the new warehouse would boast state-of-the-art management and workflow systems to ensure optimal man and machine separation. By utilising these technologies the new facility would become one of the most modern facilities in the global TMC network.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The first phase of the new Parts Distribution Warehouse will open in May 2012 with the first round of daily deliveries to the more than 220 Toyota, Lexus and Hino dealerships in Southern Africa. This phase will feature 39 000m² of warehouse space and 3000m² of office space. More than 800 of TSAM's staff complement of 7 793 employees will be based here.

The second phase will include a further 38 000m² of warehouse space and is scheduled for completion by or before 2015.

"Toyota South Africa will remain an integral member of Toyota Motor Corporation and will continue to produce vehicles in South Africa. In making this a reality we believe that the government, through the actions of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) has created a stable and predictable environment in which we as manufacturers can make investments such as this," Van Zyl said.

About Henrie Geyser

Henrie Geyser joined the online publishing industry through iafrica.com, where he worked for five years as news editor and editor. He now freelances for a variety of print and online publications, on the subjects of cars, food, and travel, among others; and is a member of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists. moc.acirfai@geirneh
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