“Excellent firms don’t believe in excellence – only in constant improvement and constant change.” — Tom Peters
For a century, South Africa was the undisputed vehicle manufacturing hub of Africa. We were the heavyweight champions, and the title wasn’t even up for debate. But in 2025, we officially lost that crown (Okebiorun).
In this article, I’m not going to deep-dive into the “how” or the “why”—we’ve heard enough about the ports and the power. I want to talk about the significance of this moment.
The Veteran vs. The Newcomer
South Africa started building cars in 1924 (Ford) and 1926 (General Motors). We have 100 years of skill, expertise, and logistics as part of our DNA. Morocco, on the other hand, only really entered the global manufacturing race about 15 years ago (Labuschagne).
Think about that.
I don’t know what the bigger story is: Is it the fact that a century-old veteran just lost its lead? Or is it that a new kid on the block surpassed us in less than two decades?
2025 Comparison
| Feature | South Africa (The Veteran) | Morocco (The Newcomer) |
| Industry Age | 100 Years (Since 1924) | ~15 Years (Modern Era) |
| 2025 Production | ~600,000 Units | 1,000,000+ Units |
| Market Focus | Mostly ICE & Hybrid | EV Ready & Global Export |
| Location | Southern Tip of Africa | 14km from Europe |
A call to STAND UP & FIGHT!!!
As a proud South African, I’m disappointed. It’s hard to believe we aren’t taking manufacturing as seriously as we should. Look at our unemployment rates—we have millions of youth looking for work, and now even those who are employed are watching the industry they love get squeezed .
We should be coming together, sitting around a table, and saying “AHOY!!!! Let’s sort this thing out!” We cannot just allow this decline. We need to make this country attractive for investors again. Our location is already a challenge—we are sitting at the bottom tip of the continent, far from the biggest markets. We can’t afford to be uncompetitive on top of that.
The Hunger Factor
I don’t claim to have all the answers. I’m not saying it’s an easy fix. But why can’t we learn from Morocco? From China? From anyone who is winning?
We have the skill. We have the history. We have the legacy. But somewhere along the line, did we lose that something? That HUNGER, that PRIDE?
The numbers don’t lie. The King has been dethroned. The only question left is: Do we want our title back?
Disclaimer: These are my personal views and experiences. I am not a spokesperson for any company; my opinions do not reflect those of my employer.
Sources: Business Insider | NAAMSA | My Broadband |
