Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has commenced pilot production of its next-generation Hilux pickup truck at its manufacturing plant in Durban, marking a major milestone in a 10.4 billion rand ($634 million) investment programme aimed at strengthening the country’s automotive industry. According to Reuters and CNBC Africa, more than 77% of the investment programme has already been completed, with the remaining work expected to conclude by June 2027. The upgraded production line will eventually manufacture about 140,000 Hilux units annually, serving both the domestic market and export destinations across Africa and Europe.
The investment includes 3.2 billion rand dedicated to upgrading the Durban facility, including a new logistics centre for imported components and a chassis treatment and coating facility. A further 7.2 billion rand has been allocated to production readiness through advanced robotics, manufacturing equipment, and supplier tooling, while a new chassis frame welding facility is scheduled for completion next year. The latest Hilux will feature enhanced safety technologies and advanced driver-assistance systems as Toyota responds to intensifying competition from Chinese automakers such as GWM and Chery, which continue expanding their presence in South Africa.
Toyota South Africa Chief Executive Andrew Kirby described the investment as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s manufacturing sector at a time of significant transformation in the global automotive industry. Stricter emissions regulations in Europe, one of South Africa’s largest vehicle export markets, are compelling manufacturers to modernise production facilities and adopt cleaner vehicle technologies to remain competitive internationally.
The launch reinforces South Africa’s position as one of Africa’s leading automotive manufacturing hubs and highlights the strategic importance of the Hilux to Toyota’s global operations. Analysts say the investment is expected to boost local manufacturing capacity, support thousands of jobs across the automotive value chain, strengthen export competitiveness, and position South Africa to remain a key production base as global demand for advanced pickup trucks continues to evolve.
