A new home for Toyota SA
Toyota Motors South Africa has reaffirmed its local and global ambitions with the official opening of its new Parts Distribution Warehouse on Monday (October 1) in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
The R363-million centre was built and equipped in 15 months and has been designed to serve the company’s southern African Toyota, Lexus and Hino dealer networks with daily deliveries. It will also support 70 international destinations where proudly South African-built Toyota vehicles are found.
The new facility has 39 000 m2 storage space and 3 000 m2 office space, hosting the company’s customer service and logistic support divisions. In the second phase, expected to be completed in 2015, Toyota will add a further 38 000 m2, making this facility the largest of its kind on the African continent.
The official opening of the warehouse signals the start of a new phase of investment and development for Toyota South Africa. The company announced its intention to develop this facility in 2011, and says its future development plans include the local assembly of its Ses’fikile taxi.
“These investments lay the foundation for a mid-term strategy that will further develop the local automotive industry as envisioned by the Automotive Production and Development Programme,” says Dr Johan van Zyl, president and CEO of Toyota Motors SA.
“It will also strengthen South Africa’s position as a global manufacturing hub with its ability to fully support any locally manufactured vehicle, regardless of its destination,” says Van Zyl.