by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s rapidly evolving automotive industry is facing growing pressure to ensure technical aftersales skills keep pace with increasingly advanced vehicle technology, according to Hyundai Automotive South Africa Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Anderson.
Speaking at the launch of the new Motus Training Academy in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, Anderson said the future of the sector would depend heavily on technical expertise and continuous skills development.
The academy is expected to train more than 2,000 students annually in mechatronics, electric energy vehicle systems, diagnostics and advanced servicing technologies.
“As the automotive industry evolves at an accelerated pace, the need for highly skilled technicians and artisans has never been greater,” Anderson said during the launch event.
He noted that modern vehicles were becoming increasingly sophisticated, particularly with the rise of electric mobility, digital diagnostics, connected systems and advanced servicing technologies.
“The industry must ensure that aftersales skills evolve at the same speed as the innovation entering our market,” he said.
According to Anderson, training institutions such as the Motus Training Academy are essential in preparing young people for sustainable careers while helping the automotive sector remain globally competitive.
Hyundai Automotive South Africa has expanded its youth and technical development programmes significantly in recent years.
The company currently supports 338 apprentices across its network of 97 dealerships nationwide, with women accounting for nearly a quarter of participants in the programme.
Earlier this month, Hyundai Automotive South Africa revealed that its youth employment initiative attracted more than 33,000 applications from across the country, underlining strong demand for employment opportunities within the automotive sector.
South Africa’s automotive industry contributes more than 5.2 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supports approximately 500,000 jobs throughout the broader supply chain.
Of these, more than 115,000 are highly skilled positions in direct vehicle and component manufacturing.
Government’s National Development Plan aims to produce 30,000 artisans annually by 2030 as part of broader efforts to address skills shortages and stimulate economic growth.
– CAJ News