By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has restarted the assembly line at its East London plant following what it called a “planned nonproduction period” that ran from June 25 to the end of July.
A spokesperson for the local arm says production restarted, as planned, on July 31, on a two-shift system.
The company produces the C-Class sedan for the local and export markets.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s July shutdown should serve as the warning light demanding political action to accelerate progressive policies such as fuel efficiency standards and vehicle emission standards to shape domestic markets, while critically providing manufacturing incentives across the value chain towards localisation.
South Africa boasts a strong automotive legacy, celebrating 100 years of the industry in 2024.
The industry, accounting for 5.1% of the country’s GDP, supports 116,000 jobs on the manufacturing side alone, and close to 400,000 on the retail and repair side.
South Africa is currently attempting to negotiate a more beneficial trade arrangement with the US after Donald Trump imposed a 25% blanket tariff on all automotive imports into the country.
The US is a major export destination for MBSA, which currently produces the C-Class sedan in both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive guises for numerous world markets.
The facility currently employs 2,400 people, and produced a volume of 70,000 vehicles in 2024, making it one of the country’s top automotive exporters.