Tucked away in a quiet corner of an industrial park next to King Shaka Airport in Durban is the Mahindra factory and many car buyers do not realise the Pik Up is assembled at this facility, which recently celebrated the 20 000th vehicle to come off the production line.
The Durban facility, which began operations in May 2018, initially set a target of producing 2 500 Pik Up models annually. However, in just six years, the team has exceeded this goal fourfold, keeping pace with the growing demand for Mahindra vehicles in South Africa.
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Mahindra’s journey in South Africa began with the assembly of single-cab Pik Up models. Over time, the facility expanded its capabilities, moving from semi-knocked down (SKD) operations to a fully-fledged nuts-and-bolts assembly line. This evolution has allowed Mahindra South Africa to produce not only single-cab models but also double-cab and special edition variants, including the Karoo Editions.
Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa, says: “The Mahindra Assembly Facility could rightfully be described as the largest and most complex of its kind on the African continent, especially when considering single-brand facilities that maintain a consistent production flow each month.
This facility’s success is supported by AIH Group, a Level 2 BBBEE Empowered company, which has been instrumental in increasing both production output and the complexity of the assembly processes.”
Looking ahead, Mahindra and AIH are gearing up for the next phase of their partnership, with plans to construct a brand-new assembly facility spanning 14 000 square metres. This new site, expected to be completed by June 2025, will enable Mahindra to further expand its production capacity and workforce, currently standing at 90 employees on the assembly line.
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The upcoming facility will anchor Mahindra’s next growth phase in South Africa, ensuring the company can meet the rising demand for its Pik Up models, particularly the Karoo Dusk, Dawn, Storm, and Dew Special Editions, all of which are currently assembled locally.
Mahindra’s success in South Africa is evident in its market performance, where it ranks as the second-largest seller of single-cab bakkies and the fourth-largest overall bakkie retailer.
Since establishing its South African operations in October 2004, Mahindra has significantly expanded its vehicle range, dealer network, and supporting infrastructure, making South Africa its second home outside India. The company’s rapid growth has been recognised on multiple occasions, including being named the fastest-growing brand in the country in 2019 and 2022.
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In recent years, Mahindra has continued to invest in South Africa, opening a new multi-storey parts warehouse in Johannesburg, a high-tech training facility in Centurion, and a Special Fitment Centre in Kempton Park.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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