While the north of Pretoria already has the second highest investment growth rate in Tshwane, the establishment of a development dubbed Automotive City could push the region to the top. The north of Pretoria will be firmly placed on the world map with the establishment of a development dubbed Automotive City – only the second on the African continent, Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa announced. At the same time, the northern region currently had the second highest investment growth Ramokgopa said.
The role of the automotive industry in Tshwane was notable as it had grown from R23,9
billion in 2010 to R28,9 billion last year., “As such, the city is currently engaged in the process of establishing the Tshwane Automotive City in Rosslyn, which includes the purchasing of land parcels to the value of R188 million,” Ramokgopa said in his state of the capital address delivered on Thursday.
“This development will take the form of a long-term partnership between the Automotive
Industry Development Centre (AIDC), the Tshwane Economic Development Agency (Teda) and the City of Tshwane and is aimed at establishing a second automotive city within the African continent,” the mayor said. The motor manufacturers’ dedication to furthering their business was evident, Ramokgopa
said, adding that in November last year, the BMW group reaffirmed its long-term commitment to South Africa by announcing it would invest a total of R6 billion at its Rosslyn plant.
This investment, the largest in the local automotive industry, would enable the Rosslyn plant to produce the next generation of the BMW X3 that would be sold locally and be exported to various countries across the world.
“Aptly informed by the demand for new vehicles on the continent, Nissan South Africa has
pronounced on its plans to increase production of its new model bakkie at its Rosslyn plant, which will see potential production rising to 80 000 by 2018,” according to Ramokgopa.
Based on the Better Life Index, he added, Tshwane was the quickest improving metro in the country with the highest growth rate in the index value over the period 2011 to 2015.
“This implies that Tshwane is rapidly becoming the best place to live in South Africa.”