Watch Exclusive: Stellantis FaSTLAne 2030
This video features a presentation and Q&A session regarding Stellantis' "FaSTLAne 2030" business strategy as it pertains to South Africa and the broader Sub-Saharan region.
Key highlights include:
- Regional Strategy: Stellantis aims to be a relevant player in the South African market, targeting a 4% to 5% market share by 2030 (11:15-11:35). They are consolidating their brand presence, focusing on global pillars like Peugeot, Fiat, and Jeep, alongside regional focuses for Citroën, Opel, and Alfa Romeo (6:01-6:13, 39:51-40:37).
- Micromobility Focus: A major part of their growth strategy involves "micromobility" to provide affordable, sustainable transport solutions for congested urban areas and last-mile delivery. The Fiat Topolino and other small vehicles are highlighted as key tools for job creation and entrepreneurship (12:35-13:25, 17:35-18:05).
- Manufacturing Updates: The proposed manufacturing plant in Coega is currently "on pause" while the team reframes the business case. They are moving away from a single-model (pickup only) focus to ensure the facility is sustainable amidst a changing market that is increasingly influenced by competitive Asian imports (8:07-8:57, 21:30-22:45).
- Market Dynamics: Leadership discussed the competitive challenge posed by Asian (specifically Chinese) manufacturers. They emphasize that instead of protectionism, they aim to integrate these realities through partnerships and efficient sourcing to maintain competitiveness in a free-market economy (24:00-25:45, 48:30-49:15).
- Customer Focus: The company is working to improve customer experience, expand dealer networks, and explore flexible finance/subscription models to support customers who may lack access to traditional credit (38:15-39:35).
Transcript
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on this rather chilly June morning.
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Thank you for joining us today. We appreciate there were some complexities around coming to be with us today and so
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I'm uh I think it's a great reflection on our relationship with the media. The fact that some some of you actually found your way here today. So, thank
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you. Um we're pleased to have you here today so we can unpack fast lane 2030 which is the business strategy that will
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guide Stalantis in terms of our direction priorities and ambitions and um what we want to do today is basically
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give you a view of what that means for this region and of course what that means for our local SA market as well.
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So um basically uh our presentation here today will begin with um a live
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broadcast from Samir who is the COO for the Middle East and Africa region. Um he will take us through the broader
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regional strategy with a focus on the MIA priorities direction and uh the business ambition.
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This will be followed by a Q&A and I would really like you all to take note of the QR code on the screen and scan it
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if you have any questions because this is how you can submit your questions for our Q&A process. Um you will enter type
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in your questions and um hopefully we'll get an opportunity to get around to all of them and those questions will be specifically directed at Samir.
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Um then following that session with Samir, we will continue uh with our own local leadership team who will uh
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basically take us through what the South African context is for fast lane 2013 and share how we are really connecting
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um our actions and projects initiatives to the fast lane business strategy. Um there will also be an opportunity for
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some Q&A for uh the local team uh after they've shared and presented um what they have for you today.
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And that we do verbally. You don't Yeah, we won't we won't need the QR code for that. Um cuz we're all in the room together. Uh there's no need for any
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fancy technology to to assist us. So um just a few housekeeping announcements.
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Uh the bathrooms if you exit this door are right and then right again. Uh on your left you'll see the men's and then
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the ladies is around the corner. Uh after this session we will uh we would like to invite all of you for some lunch
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afterwards in in the foyer area and we'd like you to take a moment to experience some of the cars. maybe get inside, look
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around, switch some some buttons on and off um just so you can get a feel of some of the products um here at Stalantis.
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And um also for anyone who may need interviews or would like more information, please be in touch, get in
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touch with the comm's team, that's myself and um our agency partners also um at Accentia. um they will be very
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3 minutes, 18 seconds
happy to help you get whatever information you are looking for. Um but yeah, I think that's it in terms of
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3 minutes, 25 seconds
getting us ready. We are now um going to just go through to the link um and hear what Samir has to share with us. Um he
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should be on the screens at exactly 11. So that's uh 5 minutes from now.
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I think if you anyone wants to just copy the uh the QR code. Yeah, let's let's go back to the Here we go. There's the QR code
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if you want to just take a few minutes now to scan that um so you know how to submit your questions. Okay.
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Right. Thank you. Thanks everyone and certainly it's good to see some of you again. Um for those of you who made the effort to come out today, we did plan
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the traffic so you had no traffic today but certainly really appreciate the fact that you you you took the time out to be
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here. So I think what what's important and I think a lot of people don't realize that Stalantis itself is
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actually only 5 years old the brand majority of the brands are over 100 years old so for us
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particularly in South Africa and subsahara which we operate from here is really about joining the journey of how we grow the business and I'll try and
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take you through some of the uh key aspects of of where we are. So this you saw earlier this really refers to what
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Stellantis is all about and we'll cover the Bella will share with you when we say mobility where we going is far more
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than just your traditional vehicles. We see the mobility journey particularly in
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subsahara and South Africa huge between now 2030. In fact from a a micromobility
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point of view subsahara will be by far the largest market in the world. And let me try and put that into context. If you
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speak to someone in in India and you say how big is your mobility market? They'll come back to you and say 26 million.
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The reality is when we know it's 6 million traditional cars and trucks and buses,
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but there's 20 million two wheelers, three-wheelers, and small vehicles. This is the opportunity that really exists
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and we'll touch on that a bit later in terms of what we call uh mobility from a product point of view. And if we look at the the key pillars, um we already
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started that journey in South Africa and subsahara.
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We look at the we we cannot focus on 14 different brands in South Africa. So how are we doing this? We are focusing on
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what the the the global brands that we we will be doing here is going to be Peugeot, Fiat and Jeep. We'll talk about
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that. And then Citroen Opal and Alpha are the regional brands that we focus.
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South African market now I think is 64 65% below 400 420,000 rand
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that is where Citroen plays Peugeot will play very much in the van and pick
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up space uh globally is the biggest player in vans leap motors will be very
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much our journey into into uh new energy vehicles and we will have a full launch and test of the market with one product
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the C10 but leap is very much the emerging startup out of China and we will be launching Leap as a full brand
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full range as we go forward and then as you hear Jeep will become a critical pillar so Jeep will be sourced out of
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Asia both India and China and Jeep will move from B segment um very affordable
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all the way up so Jeep's going to become another core pillar and uh will share with you some of the the uh
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micromobility journey. We'll benefit by common architecture, common platforms as
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we go forward. Uh big part of the drive going forward as you heard today is partnerships. We are very much doing the
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same and part of that partnership journey. both the technology partners and the plants we spoke about today Tata
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in India Donfang and Deep Motors in China will be a key part of where we sourcing from. So the question is uh
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where and what um from a sourcing point of view we as you saw in the comments very simple for for South Africa and
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subsahara will be 90% either localized out of the region or out of Asia Pacific
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just to to make it clear you're all aware of the the fact that we did announce a manufacturing operation down
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in KUKA we certainly have not stopped that process as we put it on pause. Um what what we're doing at the moment is
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with the developments we're seeing as the there's a reook at APDP how that's structured. We've seen the market changing significantly with the advent
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of Asian players the buy down to below 400,000. Originally our plant was going to be a pickup only plant. So right now
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we are re reffrraming the plant to uh be able to support more than one model and that's a process
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that's underway to see how we can ensure that it's a very viable and sustainable business case and certainly in the next few months we hope to be able to be very
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clear on what the next steps on the plant. Um as I've said said before all the earth works are finished they're
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done the ground works we've done cleared 34 hectares um so certainly it's on pause definitely definitely not stopped
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and as you saw earlier one of our key strategies from a South African point of view is to localize as well when we look
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at it uh in the region that we operate in is very strong and number two but the strength all lies in North Africa Turkey
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And the real opportunity for us is the growth and the focus that we will do uh in terms of growing in effectively
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subsahara and Africa and uh and South Africa. We continue to bring our dealerships together and what we call
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house concept. uh we will over the next four years, 5 years, the products that
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you saw today on Jeep uh the Peugeot range, the Citroen range, the um Leak
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Moto range will cover cover the full spectrum and we will be able to provide approximately 90 94% uh coverage in the
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market through a network that will be Stantis what we call Stellantis covering all the brands. you're not going to have a Fiat dealer or or a Persian dealer.
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That is very much the the journey that we're going on. And the reality in this market now is that you cannot um compete
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from a cost point of view with what is coming out of Asia, you're going to find it very very difficult. And I think uh something that we are working very
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closely as an industry is how do we ensure that we have a sustainable industry that uh has been built at
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currently what 5% GDP and how we can play a role in in that as we go forward.
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We're very much evolving and giving more authority and uh empowerment to the regions. So the regions are becoming
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very much more a business unit as we go forward. I think very simplistically from a status point of view we're only starting that journey. So uh today our
11:06
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share has grown significantly year on year but nowhere near what our ambitions are. Our view is that to be relevant in
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the South African market you need to be at approximately 4 to 5% in this market and that is where
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we will be building through those four core brands that I mentioned. um obviously supported by some of the smaller the regional side of things but
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is to be by 2030 uh between the four and 5 Pacific because that is what is required to be relevant in this market
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going forward but certainly it's a journey on a journey we are very much building we have and a part of of a
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global number three stroke four player in the world and certainly there's for us it's critical that we achieve the
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same successes in the south as opposed to what we are doing in the north. We spoke about mobility for everyone. So I
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want to share with you which we didn't cover in the earlier presentation is how mobility is going to play a key role for not only South Africa but subsur. So
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over to you there over to you.
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from the start.
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Thank you and good afternoon. Um I think everybody always ask me what is microobility? Um for us, Met Mobility is
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providing affordable mobility that is intended to support um a provision of
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vehicles to people particularly operating in congested cities. So we know congestion is one of the biggest elements particularly given how
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urbanization is actually developed. So you need affordable vehicles. You need to be able to provide vehicles that can operate for last mile uh transportation
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both from a delivery uh and also for people movement. So affordable and accessible mobility it's quite important
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for us and mobility as Mike indicated stem starts from all the way from affordability all the way to providing
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the most expensive vehicle in Maserati as we indicated. But the other thing with microobility is that they offer low cost
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of ownership for emerging operators. As you know, uh cash flow is quite important particularly for your small
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operators and businesses. Um last mile delivery has been a a a growing part of
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mobility solutions that we see at the advent of e-commerce where people need to be able to move goods. uh we now all
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of us shop uh through a platform uh and get goods delivered at our homes rather than be going out to shops and
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microobility is that solution that enables that to be able to happen. It is more cost effective to move goods particularly in the last mile using
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microobility than it is to use a normal pickup or a normal van particularly because the highest cost of movements of goods it's actually in the last mile.
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53% of logistic costs. It's actually moving something from a shop into your house. And that's why it's important
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that we start looking at solutions that enable that to happen. It is sustainable urban transport particularly for and and
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it is growing purely because as I indicated uh the infrastructure within our countries and throughout the continent is not growing at the same
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pace as the needs of our mobility actually puts on on on that particular infrastructure. More recently, I
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attended the uh transport evolution um infrastructure um conference and there was a lot of conversation and discussion
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with regard to rail to road and the need to be able to drive the growth in infrastructure but we know that takes
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years. However, you are able to be able to provide solutions using other means and microbit is one of those means that
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will enable the utilization of an existing infrastructure to be able to provide more solutions within that. For
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us, it's also important because we've got a lot of entrepreneurs who have challenges with regard to access to finance equally well with regard to
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affordability and micromobility are affordable tools and vehicles that enable people to be able to start
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looking at creating jobs and those jobs could be moving goods or could be as an entrepreneur who needs a small vehicle that enables them to be able to do what
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they need to do. It is scalable, adaptable. We will be producing and um assembling these vehicles in a lot of markets within the continent including
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in South Africa. Uh as Samir had indicated uh in in in Morocco we've already started with the assembly uh and
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and and production of microobility in this instance the fiat trace but we also produce the fiatolino uh the citron army which are vehicles
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that have been around. So as Stalantis we've been on the journey of microobility for a longer period starting as far back as 2020. Uh and
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these vehicles are quite important because they help in reducing congestion in our particular roads but also provide
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affordability. So the fatress as you walk in you saw a tress um our fiat trace it's an all electric uh vehicle.
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Um it it's very practical and purpose built. It's a half tunnel. It carries up to 500 kg. Uh it has a range of 90 kilometers. Um it's it's very practical.
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It enables the movement of goods. What I would normally call a mail grant which means as you know currently your two
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wheelers provide a singular delivery for your order if you order food or you order small groceries. However, when you
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have to order and move microwaves or bigger items, we do what we call a milk run. So, it will be delivered as part of a a run that that particularly happens.
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So, this will be built for Africa. Um, and and taking into account our realities. We want vehicles that are durable, vehicles that can operate in
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the road infrastructure that we're faced with. Um, as challenging as it might be.
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And and this vehicle is built using a full chassis frame which makes it more durable
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and also be able to carry as much load as it's um actually expected. Easy to operate, easy to charge. You charge
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using 12 20 volts home plug. It takes about from zero to um full charge would
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take about 4 hours or just over 4 hours to 80% just around about 3 hours. Um, so
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what it does obviously it gives a small operator, a small business an opportunity to charge while they're at home in the evenings and be able to go
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and do their runs during the day, which is quite important. Um, as I said, it's not about transport, but it's about
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creating jobs. uh we have a a country currently in South Africa faced with high levels of unemployment but we do
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have capable people that can actually start doing other things and microobility enables them to start looking at opportunities either as
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service providers in the transport space or as entrepreneurs that would enable them to be able to scale up or also
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enable their operations. If you are a guy who maybe welds and provide things, you can start having a moment of being
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able to move your goods because we know that mobility enables economic activity.
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Uh once you're stuck in a place, you actually stuck. But if you're able to move, you're able to go and look for opportunities and actually create more
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opportunities for yourself. Um because it's electric, uh there's low cost from a fuel perspective. We know what President
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Trump has done to the world and the price of fuel. Um we also know that electricity still remains the most affordable form of energy that you can
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utilize. So it is affordable from that perspective. It is low maintenance because it is electric. So from an operator you actually have low operating
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costs but you have a higher opportunity to increase your revenue or your earnings thereby making it more profitable. We're looking at creating an
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ecosystem that will allow our operators to be able to acquire these vehicles at a very low or affordable cost where they
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can rent these vehicles, be able to generate income and be able to pay instead of going for a normal um uh
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installment sale or higher package type of structure. So we'll share more in details when we launch the vehicles. Uh we'll be launching in South Africa, East
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African markets and also in in West Africa. Um eventually we'll launch throughout the continent. Uh we will be
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20 minutes
bringing in two wheelers as well. We'll be bringing three wheel three wheelers as in the Fiat TR and four wheelers which is a small vehicles both in terms
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of people mover as well as goods moving products. They will be branded Fiat and as Samir indicated it's a global brand
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which means microobility will be a global solution that will be as Fiat and Estellant is actually expanding throughout the continent or throughout
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the world in actual fact. So looking forward to sharing with you and showcasing some of our products. Uh but
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for today the truth is out there you just need to have a bike license if you want to go for other than that we're all good. Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thanks to uh Mike and and Gab for sharing with us some of the developments that we can look forward to in in our
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local market. I'd like to just give you guys now the opportunity to ask some questions directly to our local um South
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African leadership team. Maybe if you have any points you'd like to clarify or perhaps there's something you didn't
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quite understand um that was shared in in the session today. Um now is the opportunity for you guys to ask your
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questions. Um all you need to do is just kind of put your hand up, indicate and then um I'll hand over to you to ask a question. Go ahead.
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So uh it's Brendan from Ailla Media. Um potentially for Mike on one part of the
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the business the challenges around the plant as I'm sure there are many are you finding
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sort of resistance from the government or is it solely a decision within Stalantis to rethink the plant to make
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it not only a letter frame setup or are there other challenges that No, I think I think I think the the
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support from not only government but the Cooker Development Corporation National Development Corporation.
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I don't think we can we can fulfill the this market has changed significantly.
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Um I think 3 and 1/2 years ago if you go back 94 odd% of all pickups sold here in Africa were effectively made here.
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Now it's down to 70 something. So I think the reality is going forward you the days are gone of of plants doing
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100,000 export into the world we we need to to do two things. So pickup very much is the foundation of it but we also need
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to find a way to structure vehicles that are affordable that customers are buying at the moment. That's what we're busy doing. So we're working with them to get
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that. Obviously many of you aware you've seen it you've written about it is that there is ongoing discussions government
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looking at how they can finetune find a more sustainable approach to support the existing motor industry. Um but the
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reality is the only way it's going to grow is that the current people are importers become manufacturers as well.
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So uh certainly full cooperation full support purely a timing not a timing issue it's a case of reassessing because
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if we do go it must be sustainable and it won't be a one two second to attach to exactly that
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fighting not necessarily fighting fighting with the Chinese on price on a global scale this is a very dangerous
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game firstly do you think you can do it secondly the plant and re looking things. I am led to believe that the
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agreement with Mercedes has been finalized. So they will also start producing other brands in the East
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London plant. So suddenly in a very short period of time, less than 3 years, the South African market can become
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quite cluttered quite quickly. Do you think in the South African context we have enough rules in place to make this
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fair for the guys that need to play locally when the Chinese arrive?
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Well, I I think the key is is it's not when the Chinese arrive. The Chinese
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arrive. I was in uh I lived in Cairo for a number of years and I hadn't been there for a while. Was there in fact
24:29
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last time I was there was six, seven months ago. I was there two weeks ago and I think every second building I saw was a Chinese dealership. I didn't even
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know they had that many. It's 40% of the market and that's with the import duty of 40% in that country. So they're reality and they're significant player
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in the in the market and for us it's not a case of of of of finding them. We we must join them in some point
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partnerships sourcing out of Asia. That way we can be uh competitive. Um the in
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fact if you look at it uh I think you will find that a number of the new entrance are actually the Chinese themselves coming here. Um and I think
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that's good because that way we are going to grow and sustain the industry.
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the dialogue that we as an industry are having with governments and and obviously it's not only the the oil
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industry component guys all are in that dialogue is how do you ensure that what
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we've got we don't lose and how do we grow from that so I don't think there's any guarantee it's not a case of saying
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um you you put a plant here and uh and we need more and more protectionism I think the reality is in any long-term
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only way a plant's going to survive or the industry is going to survive is we've got to become efficient. We've got to we we've got to look at the
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opportunities that the Africa continental free trade agreement will give us. We talk about the the subsaharan market is probably the last
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real frontier left. the the question we all have is not a case of if it's a case of when very difficult to answer but
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and that's why I refer to I don't think the future is mega plants exporting to the world plants in South Africa and
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subsahara and and very importantly we we we we read a lot about the analysis that
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NAZA does neuro publications the fact that we're down to 32% of what's sold has made here. Simple reason. Customers want to buy a car that's below 400,000.
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We don't make the car. So, if we want to get back to the 50 60% of of um what's what's sold here, made here, we need to
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build from there. So, what that's what we're looking at very much so. But I can't say, "Yep, it's all done." And that's part of the interaction.
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Okay.
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We had two questions back there and then we'll follow with you after that.
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Mike from Jul you did mention the plan in Koha. Yeah.
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What are the time frames? 2 months, 2 years, 3 years.
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I was about to say next week. Um but that's not going to happen. Certainly uh definitely um in the next let's say 3 to
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four months we we we should be in a position to say yeah it all works. Part of it is also getting clarity on the final clarity on the new energy vehicle
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policy as you know as you know at the moment we all talk about it was announced I think it was a week in Ktown
27:38
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two years ago that new energy vehicle policy president actually said it covers all new energy vehicles currently was published is only full electric so
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clarity on that was required and then um there is an Algerian review at the moment that helps also consolidate the
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business case but yep very much it's we realize that I think you know if we
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look at Stellantis we exceptionally well positioned in North Africa we have a plant big plant in Algeria Morocco we
28:10
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should be in Genezia we're in Egypt um believe it or not we we are we we have a a a shareholding we have a shareholder
28:19
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with Tangodi Industries the plant in in uh Nigeria with no other OEM has an equity state in there and we have a
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partner who goes under SV conditions in Ghana. So for us, Africa is important and the area where we're not represented is in the south.
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Okay.
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Hi, thank you very much. My name is Di from the Tibet village tourism sector.
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What interests me is the the fiat. Yeah. Yeah.
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We have we have a bulk of tour operators around the country that operates within
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the townships and and the villages. Now it fa it fascinates me because it
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triggers it triggers um um some sort of um business growth in that sector.
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Now um can you just expand a little more on
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29 minutes, 24 seconds
the higher end of of this car one to to the
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will in terms of the I don't know I think that how do we charge this car how easy is this thing to operate in that
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sector um because I foresee it being a program that can transform the sector and that
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can actually empower businesses within the sector. Um, we always had those small three wheelers but they making too
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much noise. The lights are complaining now. Is it silent? Sorry, I don't know. I'm not I'm not from the car background.
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Is it silent or is it making noise? And then is it are we are we going to also look at transporting of humans or or
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people pass or is it only just goods that you're going to be transporting? Thank you.
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Okay, let me let me start with your second question. Um yes it is electric.
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So electric vehicles are generally known to be quite quiet. uh remember that we we solve him for not only congestion but
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we're also solving for pollution and in pollution is not only emissions but it's also noise. So um to to answer your
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question, yes, it's quiet. It's very quiet. Um that's one. Secondly, um it's yes, we also be introducing pupil movers
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uh in the range. So we starting with a pickup uh and the pickup will have flip bed pickup and a couple version like the
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image that I showed and then um early next year we then bring a a people move which which then will enable uh what
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you're talking about in terms of your last mile movement of people and tourism in in that particular space. Okay, that's that's that. Um with regard to
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acquisition obviously there are many ways in which you can acquire any particular asset or vehicle uh whether it's an purchase particularly for your
31:28
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corporates they tend to want to go in that route but we're also cognizant of the fact that we want to activate
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um a a youthful economy particularly township economy um and it's important that we provide solutions that enable
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that guy who might not be able to get access to credit and offer them solution that I can go and earn 500 rand and go
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pay 100 rand up 500 rand that kind of so that's a logic of the ecosystem that we're developing which will have micro
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finance micro insurance um tracking among other things or connectivity uh so we developing those
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particular solutions and that's what we'll and I think I think just to add to what Capella was saying if you look at what's
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happening throughout Africa we we we're seeing and reading a companies called Spiro uh Rome um in South Africa there's
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a great startup called Volternative alternative alternative so what we are seeing is that they the new fuel stations of the
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future because you you you sell a Dris or a two-wheeler and the whole battery
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system is swapped so so what happens is you actually buy a contract to keep swapping your batteries when you need to and that's the fuel station of the
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future and it's incredible how they're growing. I mean Sparro has in the last month and a half, two months raised
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pretty close to $300 million just in in uh in subsaran Africa. So there's huge amounts of interest and support for
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micromobility and as said micromobility is far broader than than the three-wheeler we have out there. That's one aspect. Two, three or four. And in
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fact, I don't know if anyone saw it was on one of the news 24 sites that Max was caring.
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When when you talk to Sorry, man. I'm coming back to your trading. So when you come to trading, um are you talking also
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the micromobility measurement performance within that? because I think that for the longest time trans village
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has not been measured economically. So we don't know how many people are really going this way to we know they're going
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but we don't know we don't know how many people are going on a tour which I envision that your product can take
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us on a on a tour within townships or villages in South Africa but the tracking in terms of measurement
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of the use of your product because I'm assuming it's a innovative and it's electric
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so you can actually somehow measure the numbers. Um do you have do are you are you is that incorporated in your innovation or in your in your vision?
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Thank you.
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Yeah and I think connectivity um obviously continues to to evolve and become much more sophisticated. The
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first point in connectivity is obviously in managing the car and understanding uh
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its usage and understanding um uh its effectiveness and the range that it's
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able to do the weight and um what we put through uh put the vehicle through. So that's the first part but we continue to
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look at solutions uh that actually keep on evolving. But going back to charging because Mike raised the issue of swappable batteries. We start obviously
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on the fries with a fixed battery which you can easily charge. However, we engaging with swap unstoppable solutions and we will be bringing sockable because
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what swappable does it takes away um downtime um and this is quite prevalent whether you go to Kenya or Uganda or any
35:18
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other markets you find that you just go to a station you take up a battery you put another battery and you continue on your journey. Uh and to Mike's point,
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what is actually happening in the ecosystem is that we actually in in in these countries but in SAS, you do not
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sell the device. You actually selling the energy and and that's what because that's how you enable people to get access to tools
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or vehicles and then they as they generate income they're able to just keep on buying energy. Okay.
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Hi on radio. Hi familia from Royes Mike. Um
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so you mentioned that um your your mission is to grow your market share from was it was it 1.4% to about 4% South Africa. Take take me through I
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mean so that what will support that growth? So is it more of a product strategy a pricing strategy? Is there a
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core brand that you're focusing on? A um are you bringing more energies or it's a
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mix of um Yeah. Just just more color on a mix of all of the above. Yes. So um
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Schulttons who heads up our commercial side um for for South Africa um can maybe touch on it but effectively uh yes
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to be relevant and that's the point I'm making. we need to be at between four and five maybe you want to just touch on the keys
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the length okay hi good afternoon everybody yeah so I think the the the big thing over the next um the next few years is obviously
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to to build because you've seen some of the growth we've been growing at well since 2024 we've been growing probably at about 55%.
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This year Q1 we add another 35% over 2025. So you can you can see where we're
37:13
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going. Obviously the curve is quite ex quite extensive. So obviously we need to look at a couple of things. The one is obviously product like Michael was
37:20
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saying and the sourcing of the product and focus on those key global brands but also regional brands. We look at Citroen
37:28
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for us as a region. Citroen's quite an quite an important brand because of the sourcing of India. Um it's done quite it's done exceptionally well. Uh this
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year we'll probably do close to 7,000 citrus. Now if you take that back into 2023 we did 800 citrus for the full
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year. So you can see where we're going from a growth again. So product main is the main building block but also I think
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uh your dealer network and expanding so both qualitative and quantitative.
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expanding the dealer network but also expanding capacity within the network with regards to resource with regards to
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you know your technicians. So from an after sales and sales perspective because you need to keep the the customer at the center point. Correct.
38:13
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So I think those are some of the fundamentals. Um and then looking at how do we go to market you know tactically
38:20
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we have some some ideas about how do we go to market from a finance I mean Cabela was touching on it from a micro
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financing perspective but also how do we how do we how do we offer something in the market
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that can that can actually talk to people that aren't necessarily they they can finance and they can afford but they
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they can't get finance. How do we treat that custom base because there's a fundamental growth in what we call subscription
38:50
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uh sub a subscription model correct so it's those sort of things so it's funding it's product it's how do we grow our dealers and how do we expand our
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footprint to really ensure that we have so it's a combination I don't think it's any single one thing I think and also to
39:06
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be relevant and to be consistent in the market you know not to knee-jerk I think if you look at what we've done in the last I would say 24 to 30 months it's
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been fairly consistent. We've been fairly consistent in the market and there's been consistent growth. It's not well we have a spike one quarter and
39:23
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then we dead the next quarter. I think that the the the growth has been consistent and I think that's the key for us is to really maintain that but
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obviously we now at a point where we need to accelerate. Thank you.
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But I think obviously at the center of everything is is is continually building customer trust. So Vani heads up our
39:43
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customer experience and network growing network growing trust after sales and very critically the brand. So we have
39:51
39 minutes, 51 seconds
with us all our brand heads today. So Jeep will become a significant player.
39:57
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Jeep will start from B segment all the way up to deep. Um certain plays of control where we are uh know the team
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from and some from the case of uh pro one is we're moving very very strongly
40:11
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into the van market. So one ton two ton um vans is is the new way uh on to the
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team on opal great coverage very much um for for has a particular following. while we talk
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the brands still become critical as well. We need to keep that focus. So that's very much um and then just a follow up on the
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plant. Um so just for clarity so there um so the plan is not to share with any
40:45
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other Chinese OEMs cuz they are actively looking as well and the plan for them is to partner
40:53
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from um scratch. So have you had any thoughts on that as well? intention is very much focused on ourselves but uh
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just to make clear we're also Chinese are we shelters and we'll be bringing product from there
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as well so I come back to the point that you that was the question asked earlier that it's not a case of of you know
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we're worried about the Chinese have done a superb job in in the global automotive industry we can't take that away from them and to be competitive we
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need to source with the same degree of competitiveness. So yes, we will be sourcing using Chinese sourcing as well.
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Anyone else? Oh, sorry.
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Um, yes from engineering news. Um, I have a question for micromobility you guys and I'm not sure that this is
41:56
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relevant here, but um, I'm gonna ask it anyway. So, I recently had my car hijacked and it was recovered and in
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order to go and prove ownership, they had to do a verification of the chassis and the engine. Now while I was there
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42 minutes, 12 seconds
was at Eritton the uh the uh impound there and there was a number of electric bikes that they couldn't return to their
42:20
42 minutes, 20 seconds
owner simply because they couldn't verify ownership with an engine number and um the check um sorry the EVs as
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42 minutes, 28 seconds
well and I wanted so I as a journalist asked um uh the government program uh
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which if you you know which is promoting the use of ED Eastern country uh how are
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they tackling this and they said it's an oversight right now we haven't actually dealt with it and when I asked the pound about it they said they're waiting for
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instruction from government so I wanted to know as a manufacturer are you guys working with the government at the moment in terms of verification because
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crime is very real in South Africa especially hijacking so how are we working with verification processes um
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from like uh in terms of of crime with a car or when uh a um sorry one of these um is it the
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tri sorry yes like if something like that is hijacked what what what how would you
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guys assist with the verification process? Okay, Tris does have a a VIN number as well as a engine number for
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the motor section of the car. So, we build it like we build any vehicle. So, we use um manufacturing standards to
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actually produce the wheel. That's why it's a bit different. However, if you start looking at your two wheelers, particularly electric, and something
43:52
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that probably South Africa is lacking behind relative to countries like Kenya and Uganda and and many other African
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countries is that they actually put multiple tracking of everything including battery and as a consequence they're able to
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actually uh and the vehicle has its unique identifying um marker which you can actually identify
44:16
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by the vehicle. So you you can even if the battery is off and that battery will work on any other device except that one because you link it as you buy the battery okay or as you rent the battery.
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So we we will get that but with regard to engaging with government yes we're engaging with government with the tax policy uh particularly for microobility
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because policies only been developed or as Mike indicated predominantly it has been for vehicles but now we engaging on microo as well
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and those standards and all that will come into play.
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Yep. the ramp. Um, there are some guys bringing in some gray rams. Is there a way you guys can stop them as the OEM that actually owns the brand?
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So, so I mean there's a company that works with us in Australia that converts cuz it's only in uh left hand drive.
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Yes.
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So, there's a company that has let's call it a link not be done but does officially approve conversions to right
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hand drive. So that's one aspect. Um the intention is not to to to stop it because hopefully we have right hand
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drive as well. I see Jiannis is left but just to give you an idea the part of the
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new product journey is um the Ram 1500 which has three versions. Now what are
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the three versions of the Ram? Bumblebee B what Rumble Rumble. Yeah. But anyway, it's 300 horsepower, 500 horsepower, and 700
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horsepower. So, uh um right now, no plan for right hand drive, but uh there is the Australian setup that does do it.
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So, there will come into the market, but it's under very strict um quality standards and things. Uh I think
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hopefully hopefully one day hopefully we do have right hand drive, right? Thank you. I've certainly got some people who really asked for the same.
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Hi Mark.
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Um just a quick one. Lately there's been an issue of recording of cars um you know from
46:30
46 minutes, 30 seconds
uh safety belts bel something about it. Your thoughts please? Well, I think I think um what
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46 minutes, 37 seconds
we're seeing now is obviously now far higher visibility on um recall campaigns, not because they knew. We've
46:45
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always had recall campaigns, but the industry and government and consumer council are working very closely together to raise the awareness. For
46:53
46 minutes, 53 seconds
some odd reason, um we we can send out reminders, we can send out SMSs, people
47:02
47 minutes, 2 seconds
make the appointment to come have their airbags changed. South Africans don't seem to follow through. They have an appointment, they confirm, they don't even come. So the reason you're going to
47:10
47 minutes, 10 seconds
see more and more um visibility is not because when you read all campaigns, they're there. Um you know, last night
47:19
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there was a particular brand running all over Euse, but we've been there.
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47 minutes, 24 seconds
Everyone's there to get that awareness to get people to come in and um that's the challenge is how do we get a South African to to actually react to these
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things? We don't unfortunately ideally you want to be like in some of the other markets where you cannot register your
47:38
47 minutes, 38 seconds
car unless it's had its recall done update. Uh but still need to do the latest on that.
47:52
47 minutes, 52 seconds
Yeah. Um so I remember beginning of the year there was a lot of noise regarding how the government should uh regulate
48:00
48 minutes
imports um um um of uh vehicles um and I think there were concerns um about the
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48 minutes, 8 seconds
imports that are supposedly coming out of China and or Asia rather. Yeah. Yeah.
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48 minutes, 13 seconds
So I mean what are your thoughts I mean as an importer and as a manu manufacturer that plans to manufacture
48:20
48 minutes, 20 seconds
locally? I mean, I remember the BMW saying, "Listen, we we don't want punitive measures cuz we also still
48:28
48 minutes, 28 seconds
import right here." I think we we operate in a free market economy. Um, and I don't think we should uh have a
48:37
48 minutes, 37 seconds
protectionist approach. Yes, there are duties, there are processes to to allow
48:44
48 minutes, 44 seconds
industries to adapt. The auto industry is 5% GDP at the moment, 30 odd% manufacturing
48:52
48 minutes, 52 seconds
output or export output. So certainly I don't believe the solution is to build on artificial barriers. It's not
49:00
49 minutes
sustainable but it does need to and one of the successes of this industry is that we've had APDP
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um around for a long time. So there's these certainty there's policy certainty but what we do need to do is to adapt to
49:16
49 minutes, 16 seconds
the changing environment which is um new entrance into the market uh great great
49:23
49 minutes, 23 seconds
quality great cost um coming in we we need to make sure that our APDP policies adapt to to address that but you're not
49:32
49 minutes, 32 seconds
going to u you've also got to think with the consumer as well you need to offer the consumer so it's not a protectionist
49:39
49 minutes, 39 seconds
approach needs to be maybe a more um a re what we all saying is a review of where what the current policy is and how
49:46
49 minutes, 46 seconds
did we realign it to achieve the future objectives what we set out to all the the South African South African master
49:54
49 minutes, 54 seconds
plan for automotive uh because we are in evolving in fact when the the original current program was actually developed
50:02
50 minutes, 2 seconds
in 2018 2017 part of developing it uh in it we actually had a full review plan for this
50:11
50 minutes, 11 seconds
year. Um, but I can assure you when we all sat and did that in 2018, there's no way to be realized what the makeup of
50:19
50 minutes, 19 seconds
the market will be now. So, it's a case of how we react to it. I don't think putting tariff barriers up is the
50:25
50 minutes, 25 seconds
solution. As I said, Egypt has 40% and uh they they have the Chinese players to
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50 minutes, 35 seconds
anything else everyone's lunch. any questions outside? Thank you very much.
50:45
50 minutes, 45 seconds
So, um, yeah, that pretty much wraps things up for us.
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just be wearing what you're wearing right now. That would be great.
