Gauteng commits R200-m to automotive cluster

ANNA COX BY ENHANCING the efficiency and manufacturing capacity of the local automotive industry, the Automotive Supplier Park will play a critical role in transforming Gauteng into a “smart” province. So said Gauteng premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, at the official opening of the park in Rosslyn’s industrial area, north of Tshwane, last week. “The capacity of Gauteng’s automotive industry to meet global challenges is a consequence of a detailed, economic strategy captured through the Gauteng Automotive Cluster, a Blue IQ high value-added manufacturing project,” said Shilowa. The Gauteng Automotive Cluster is one of the three economic sectors identified by the Trade and Industrial Strategy as key to the transformation of the Gauteng economy. Blue IQ, an economic infrastructure development programme of the Gauteng provincial government, has committed an initial R200 million towards the development of the first phase of the ASP. Developments on site include a logistics centre covering an initial 15 000 m2 which is at the heart of the ASP operations. The centre, benchmarked against the best global supplier parks, will cater for all logistics requirements of both the suppliers and the four main automotive manufacturers - BMW, Fiat, Ford and Nissan. Other features of the park include mini factories where smaller operations share building space. A central hub has been completed with approximately 2 000 m2 of office space. The hub incorporates offices, conference facilities, a retail centre and a canteen.