Speech
Cyril Ramaphosa  ·  2026-07-03 19:26

DP Mashatile delivers a keynote address at the Chery International Factory Acquisition Celebration

It has become evident that South Africa's automotive sector is undergoing a noticeable shift in its trade and market structure. Import penetration has increased. Chinese brands have expanded rapidly in recent years, increasing their share of the domestic market. Today, as Chery joins this proud lineage by establishing its first vehicle assembly plant in South Africa, we recognize that this milestone is not only about vehicles on our roads, but it's about livelihoods, knowledge, and renewal that fuel our nation development journey. This journey is especially remarkable given global uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, but also rising competition. Yet, this sector continues to actively support transformation. Transformation with a purpose, transformation with results.