Mahindra's new assembly plant to give boost to KwaZulu-Natal's economy

Mahindra's new semi-knockdown assembly plant in the coastal South African city of Durban is expected to give a boost of more than R95 million (USD 7.7 million0 to the economy of the KwaZulu-Natal province.

The plant in the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ), next to the airport, which was officially opened on Friday by provincial Economic Development MEC Sihle Zikalala and Indian High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj, has a capacity to produce 4,000 of Mahindra's two models of its Pik-Up range, known as 'bakkies' locally.

Besides sales in South Africa, where the Mahindra bakkies have been gaining ground, the assembly line will also turn out vehicles for export into the rest of Africa.

Speaking at the launch, provincial Economic Development head Zikalala said Mahindra's decision to establish the assembly plant in KwaZulu-Natal was an indicator of the province's "rising star in terms of investor confidence."