Where to from here?

The world is on its head and the motoring industry is at an inflection point. How does an established market leader like Toyota navigate this rapidly changing landscape? In South Africa, a locally built hybrid SUV like the Toyota Corolla Cross might offer a solution…

- BY PIERRE STEYN

At the beginning of each year, Andrew Kirby, president and CEO of Toyota South Africa, peers into his crystal ball and shares his insights in a “state of the nation address” known as SOMI (State of the Motoring Industry). This year’s address was presented in January at the Kyalami racetrack near Johannesburg, and much of what Kirby said was more on the “cautiously” side of things and less on the ”optimistic”.

Vehicle sales will only reach 535 000 this year, still less than they were in 2019 before the Covid pandemic. And without sales of 600 000 per year, we won’t attract foreign direct investment.

Globally, one in five car purchases these days is an electric vehicle, but without more government support so that battery-electric vehicles can be manufactured in South Africa, sold here, and also exported, we’ll only fall further behind.