Isuzu Motors South Africa recognised as Best Exporter OEM at the 2026 Eastern Cape Exporter of the Year Awards
Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) received three accolades, including the prestigious Best Exporter OEM Award at the Eastern Cape Exporter of the Year Awards held on Friday, 6 November 2026.
In recognition of its export performance and broader contribution to sustainable business practices, IMSAf also received two merit awards for environmental responsibility and corporate social investment.
The Best Exporter OEM Award recognises IMSAf’s continued success in exporting locally manufactured vehicles from the Eastern Cape to markets across the rest of Africa. The SJM Flex Environmental Merit Award and the Community Chest CSI Merit Award acknowledge the company’s commitment to responsible manufacturing and meaningful community investment. Together, these awards reflect a business that measures success not only by the vehicles it builds and exports, but also by the positive impact it creates for its employees, partners and the communities it serves.
“These awards reflect the collective commitment of our employees, dealers, suppliers and partners to building a competitive and responsible manufacturing business. Our contribution goes beyond manufacturing and exporting vehicles,” said Celestin Ndhlovu, Executive Vice President: Corporate Services at Isuzu Motors South Africa. “Through local manufacturing, supplier development, localisation efforts, skills development and community initiatives, we support economic opportunities that benefit the Eastern Cape and South Africa.”
Strengthening South Africa’s automotive export industry
IMSAf plays an important role in South Africa’s automotive manufacturing and export sector. During the 2025/26 financial year, the company recorded a 21% year-on-year increase in combined production volumes of ISUZU D-MAX bakkies and ISUZU Trucks, with over 27,400 ISUZU D-MAX bakkies and more than 3,800 ISUZU Trucks produced at its Struandale plant in Gqeberha, to meet the needs of customers across the African continent. The company exports the ISUZU D-MAX to more than 30 African countries, reinforcing its role as a key manufacturing hub for the continent.
Expanding its footprint across Africa remains a strategic priority for IMSAf, supported by continued investment in competitive products built for African markets, stronger local manufacturing capabilities and a resilient supplier network to meet the evolving needs of customers across the continent.
During the financial year, IMSAf invested R510 million in supplier tooling and capability development to support ISUZU D-MAX production. The investment funded 729 vendor tools across its local supplier network, enabling the production of 250 locally sourced components. This investment strengthens local manufacturing capacity, advances localisation and supports the development of technical capabilities required to sustain competitiveness in the automotive industry.
Advancing responsible manufacturing
Environmental responsibility is central to IMSAf’s long-term business strategy. The company has reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions by 38% compared with its 2013 baseline and is working towards a 50% reduction by 2030, supporting the long-term ambitions of the ISUZU Environmental Vision 2050.
The company maintains a zero-waste-to-landfill approach, achieving a recycling rate of 96% and supporting more circular manufacturing practices.
The SJM Flex Environmental Merit Award recognises the importance of integrating environmental considerations into manufacturing operations and driving continuous improvements that support more sustainable production practices.
Investing in communities
IMSAf’s commitment to community upliftment, education and conservation is reflected in its corporate social investment programme, which focuses on creating meaningful, sustainable and lasting impact in the communities where it operates.
Recognising that thriving communities are fundamental to long-term business success, IMSAf continues to support initiatives that address critical social needs. Through its partnership with Gift of the Givers, three ISUZU water tanker trucks delivered 29.6 million litres of clean water to drought-affected communities, while three ISUZU D-MAX bakkies supported food relief initiatives that reached 526,000 people, including the distribution of harvested invasive carp.
Developing skills for the future remains central to IMSAf’s commitment to strengthening South Africa’s manufacturing and automotive industry. Through its investment in education and skills development initiatives, IMSAf continues to equip young people with the knowledge and capabilities required for an evolving industry. Its initiatives span different stages of education, from improving literacy at three primary schools through the Rally to Read programme to advancing digital literacy and technological skills through AI, Coding and Robotics laboratories, including a facility benefiting 650 learners at Khulile Primary School. This commitment extends to secondary education through the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre and tertiary education through the ISUZU Chair of Mechatronics at Nelson Mandela University. The latter provides students with mentorship and practical experience in solving real-world manufacturing challenges, contributing to the development of future engineering and technical talent for the automotive industry.
Beyond its manufacturing operations, IMSAf also contributes to the conservation and restoration of local biodiversity. Through its partnership with SANCCOB, the company supported a solar energy project that reduced the centre's monthly electricity costs by 85%, providing a more reliable and cost-effective energy supply for seabird rehabilitation. In addition, IMSAf supported a tree-planting initiative that resulted in the planting of 4,748 spekboom plants, contributing to environmental restoration and conservation efforts.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate IMSAf’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability, and meaningful community investment, recognised through the Community Chest CSI Merit Award.
“As we continue to strengthen our presence across African markets, we remain focused on growing our export business, supporting local industry and investing in the people and communities we serve. This recognition reinforces our commitment to building a resilient and sustainable business that delivers long-term value for our customers, employees, partners, and the Eastern Cape economy,” said Ndhlovu.
The three awards underscore Isuzu Motors South Africa’s contribution to the Eastern Cape’s industrial development through export growth, local manufacturing, supplier investment, employment, environmental responsibility and community partnerships.
*Information provided by the publicist.
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