New Toyota warehouse will serve 56 global destinations

Construction has started on a new R363 million parts distribution warehouse for Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) situated near the OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni. The largest single investment by TSAM in Gauteng to date, the new warehouse follows a five year R8 billion investment programme into the company’s manufacturing facility in Prospecton, Durban. The 80 000m2 facility, the largest of its kind in Africa, will service Toyota, Lexus and Hino vehicles. With an estimated turnover of more than R3 billion per annum, the warehouse will house more than 2.2 million parts grouped in over 100 000 part lines. The total value of the parts alone will be in excess of R350 million. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony last week, TSAM president and CEO Dr Johan van Zyl said Toyota made about one in every four vehicles sold in South Africa while Toyota South Africa accounted for one in three vehicles exported from South Africa. “A vehicle is only as good as the parts and service support that the manufacturer offers and we believe that this new centre will ensure that we remain a leader in these fields.” Van Zyl said the new centre would be well situated close to major road arteries and the airport to service the more than 220 dealers in Southern Africa, facilitating daily deliveries to 237 points in Southern Africa. Delivery points within a 300km radius of the facility will be serviced twice a day. Apart from the local deliveries the warehouse will also ship to 56 destinations in Africa and Europe. “We are investing R363m in the first phase of this development that will see a warehouse of 39 000m2 constructed along with offices of about 3000m2. More than 800 staff will be based at the premises,” said Van Zyl. A second phase, set to be completed no later than 2015, will include a further 38 000m2 of warehouse space.