Mahindra South Africa has officially inaugurated a new, purpose-built Vehicle Assembly Facility at the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone in KwaZulu-Natal.
The new plant, situated close to Mahindra’s original 2018 assembly site, represents a significant expansion in both capacity and technical sophistication. Built to Mahindra’s global manufacturing standards, it features advanced quality control systems, extended production lines and dedicated customisation zones tailored for South African customers.
“Our original facility played a pivotal role in establishing our local footprint,” said Rajesh Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Mahindra South Africa. “As demand for our locally assembled Pik Up range continued to rise, we needed a facility with the scale, flexibility and technology to meet future growth while maintaining world-class quality.”
The Durban facility can assemble more than 1 000 Pik Up single- and double-cab models a month, with the potential of increasing output as demand grows. It can also adapt to accommodate new models that Mahindra plans to introduce in the coming years, along with an increasing proportion of locally sourced components.
Mahindra’s global engineering teams have collaborated with local suppliers to identify opportunities for greater localisation, further supporting South Africa’s industrial development.
Earlier this year, Mahindra joined forces with the Industrial Development Corporation to conduct a feasibility study into establishing a full-scale manufacturing plant in the country. Insights from the operations at the new Durban facility will be instrumental in shaping the study.
“This investment underscores our confidence in South Africa as both a manufacturing base and a key growth market for Mahindra globally,” added Rajesh. “It reflects our commitment to creating jobs, supporting local industry and delivering robust, reliable vehicles that meet the needs of South African customers.”
Sachin Arolkar, Head of International Operations at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, stated: “South Africa is a cornerstone market in Mahindra’s international growth strategy. This new facility not only strengthens our ability to serve local customers but also enhances our regional manufacturing capabilities. It is a clear demonstration of our long-term commitment to invest in Africa and to make South Africa a central hub in our global operations.”
Since producing its first locally assembled bakkie in 2018, Mahindra has grown to become one of the top ten best-selling brands in South Africa.
According to official sales data from naamsa | The Automotive Business Council (of South Africa), Mahindra is one of the three fastest-growing brands over the past seven years. It was the fastest-growing brand overall in the previous financial year, the brand with the strongest start to 2025 and the overall fastest-growing brand so far this year.
Dr Dempsey Naidoo, Chairman of AIH Logistics, Mahindra’s local assembly partner, said: “This achievement reflects the power of collaboration between global expertise and local capability, creating jobs, developing skills and advancing the country’s automotive manufacturing sector.”
