Delta Automotive Technologies (DAT) currently produces 120 vehicle wiring harnesses a day for Volkswagen in South Africa, with plans to nearly triple output for the carmaker by 2027.

The company also aims to grow from the current 327 employees, to 1 000 within four years.

What makes this exceptional, is that the plant is located in the Botswana town of Lobatse, some 70 km south of the capital Gaborone – and quite some distance from South Africa’s Eastern Cape and Gauteng auto hubs.

Traditionally, Botswana is known as a powerhouse in the diamond industry.

Wire harnesses are an intricate arrangement of wires, connectors, and components that serve as a vehicle’s central nervous systems, enabling the transmission of electrical signals and power throughout the automobile.

The growth within DAT is owing to rising demand, but also the result of strategic financing from the African Development Bank (AFD).

The bank provided a $80-million credit line to the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) for businesses in the country, including DAT.

“This funding hasn't just built infrastructure – it has built opportunity,” says DAT manufacturing director Darryn Hattingh.

“We've built a world-class operation that competes globally, while creating opportunity locally.

“The support enables us to industrialise not just today's production lines, but tomorrow's innovations.

“It will also support us to industrialise future businesses obtained through Volkswagen.”

DAT currently makes 120 vehicle harness sets a day for Volkswagen’s Polo Vivo and Polo 270 models.

By 2027, it hopes to create 340 vehicle sets for the local arm of the German manufacturer.

Around 75% of Delta's workforce is female, and 95% Botswana nationals.

“Every component we make is a challenge to outdated assumptions about gender and engineering work,” says DAT product and process engineer Clara Kaekane.

“I'm not just building car parts – I'm building a new perception of what is possible for women in manufacturing across Africa.”

“What is happening here is the physical manifestation of our High 5 development priorities, particularly ‘Industrialise Africa’ and ‘Integrate Africa’,” adds AFD Southern Africa deputy director-general Moono Mupotola.