- 10,000th unit rolls off the line
-Mahindra to expand production to meet demand
Centurion, July 11, 2022: Mahindra unveiled its new corporate identity last month, as the
10,000th South African assembled Pik Up rolled off the line in
KwaZulu-Natal. This significant milestone follows four years after
Mahindra opened its
South African assembly facility at the Dube Trade port Special Economic Zone outside
Durban.
Speaking on the announcement, Sachin Arolkar, Head of International Operations, Automotive Division,
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Said, “It is a moment of pride to see the
Pik Up roll off the assembly line, knowing that it has become a much-loved part of the
South African bakkie market. We are fully committed to make
South Africa our second home outside of India, and we look forward to further developing this facility to increase production volumes with higher local content and to also expand our reach into more countries in Africa.”
Mahindra South Africa first opened the Assembly Facility in May 2018, with a single assembly line and limited vehicle line-up. Since then, the facility has reached peak single-shift production and added several additional models, special editions, and customised vehicles, which it builds in partnership with the team at
Mahindra Special Fitment Centre in Gauteng.
Speaking on the announcement, Rajesh Gupta, CEO of
Mahindra South Africa said, “This is a significant milestone for
Mahindra, our team and our partners. The past four years have been tough with the COVID pandemic, riots in
KwaZulu-Natal, the recent floods that ravaged this province and the ongoing challenge with components and global shipping. Everyone who is involved in this project has shown an unwavering commitment to make the facility a success and to best serve our growing customer base. We celebrate this milestone with each one of them.”
Mahindra South Africa reached a new sales benchmark in the first quarter of 2022 when it averaged sales of more than 1 000 units a month, with the
Pik Up leading the charge for the commercial vehicle division.
Indeed, the
Pik Up has been one of
South Africa’s fastest-growing bakkie models and a top-seller in the single and double cab market over the past four years. Demand for the
Pik Up far outstrips supply, and
Mahindra will soon expand its production to help shorten waiting lists.
“The facility has enabled us to adapt to market needs and to serve our bakkie customers faster. For instance, our special
Farmer’s Edition sold out within days of its launch and our
Karoo and new
Karoo Dusk, Dawn and Storm models are now available, thanks largely to the local assembly facility,” said Rajesh.
Mahindra and its assembly partner,
AIH Logistics, build a near-complete range of
Pik Up models, including the highly popular
Karoo and specialised models such as the
Pik Up Ambulance.
