South Africa’s automotive policy should do more for the businesses that supply parts, repair vehicles and keep them running, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition John Steenhuisen said on Tuesday, 27 October.
Speaking at the Automechanika Johannesburg CEO Breakfast at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, he called for more local manufacturing, investment, technical training and exports. He said the review of the Automotive Production and Development Programme should consider the wider industry, beyond vehicle factories. Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
The replacement-parts opportunity
The aftermarket serves vehicles after their initial sale, through replacement parts, servicing and repairs. Its potential customer base includes imported vehicles as well as those assembled in South Africa.
According to naamsa’s Automotive Trade Manual 2026, South Africa imported R107.5 billion in replacement parts in 2025, up from R104.8 billion in 2024. These are annual import values, not an announced investment or a forecast of what local manufacturers will earn.
| Year | Import value (R billion) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 104.8 |
| 2025 | 107.5 |
Source: naamsa Automotive Trade Manual 2026, pages 117 to 118. Values are annual replacement-parts imports in nominal rand billions.
The manual puts the national vehicle population at 13.68 million in 2025, with an average age of 11 years. That helps explain the importance of reliable parts supply and repair capacity to motorists keeping older vehicles on the road. naamsa’s Automotive Trade Manual 2026, pages 117 to 118
Local production needs a viable market
The Retail Motor Industry Organisation has also called for automotive policy to include retail and aftermarket businesses more explicitly. In a statement published earlier this month, it identified glass, tyres, batteries and remanufactured components among potential areas for local production.
The organisation stressed that localisation must be commercially viable and must not put existing retail jobs at risk. It called for accessible testing and certification, a clear understanding of demand and routes into domestic and export markets.
Its figures put the sector at more than 23,000 businesses, around 80% of them small, medium and micro enterprises. This makes supplier access and the cost of meeting quality standards central to whether smaller firms can participate. Retail Motor Industry Organisation
Steenhuisen also called for closer cooperation with training institutions to prepare technicians for electric vehicles, advanced diagnostics and other changing technologies. He identified African markets as an opportunity for replacement parts, remanufactured components and specialist services.
What businesses should watch next
The department’s statement does not specify a new funding allocation, an application process or a number of new jobs secured.
For suppliers, the useful next details would be which components are targeted, who will buy them and what finance and technical support will be available. For motorists, the practical test will be parts availability, quality and repair costs. The call for localisation alone does not establish that workshop bills will fall.
Related reading: South Africa to phase out car-kit assembly support.
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