'Good benchmark for China'

We can promote employment and contribute to the South African fiscus.’

- Brian Sokutu

With the Beijing Automotive Industry Cooperation (BAIC) gearing up for the grand launch next year of its new BJ30 SUV in South Africa, company vice-president and chair of BAIC Automotive SA Propriety Limited Wang Jianhui is confident about plans for its Gqeberha plant coming into fruition.

These, said Wang, yesterday would lead to a full capacity vehicle production, serving as a market channel to reach a wider African market - "a good benchmark for China's the Belt and Road initiative and the SA cooperation".

Asked about what led to delays in the plant working optimally, Wang cited the impact of the Covid outbreak, "challenges presented by the global economy and political issues".

"If we can realise the localisation in the South African market, we can promote employment and contribute to the South African fiscus through taxation," said Wang.

Asked whether the African vehicle market had preference design requirements to enhance growth, Wang said: "Guided by the analysis of the African market, we see a potential development in terms of the continent's population of about 1.5 billion people.