With the global automotive industry entering a new era of electrification and automation, South Africa’s skills ecosystem will be tested. Consequently, industry association National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers’ (NAACAM’s) skills development initiatives aim to align technical training with industrial transformation to ensure inclusive participation across the value chain.

As the local automotive industry prepares for a decade of “unprecedented technological change”, the question of skills readiness has become central to its competitiveness. NAACAM is driving several initiatives to ensure that local suppliers, particularly small and medium-sized manufacturers, have access to training, funding and the ‘right’ talent pipeline to navigate the shift.

The association’s approach is built on practical, company-driven needs rather than “one-size-fits-all” training, says NAACAM skills project manager Lebalang Molobele.

“We design our programmes around the gaps identified within the NAACAM membership base, whether that’s production technology, quality control or digital capability. The result is higher engagement, fewer dropouts and training that genuinely improves competitiveness.”

Through the Automotive Supply Chain Competitiveness Initiative project, and partnerships with sector education and training authorities (Setas), NAACAM provides grants for lean manufacturing and shop-floor quality training.

These programmes are complemented by bursaries for engineering and manufacturing-related studies, and by internships that help with the absorption of young graduates into employment in member firms, apprenticeships as well as various skills programmes.

“The goal is to create a sustainable pipeline from the classroom to the factory floor,” says Molobele.

Adequate Transition Preparation

Molobele emphasises that the coming shift to new energy vehicles (NEVs) and digitalised production lines requires more than just technical retraining – it calls for structural collaboration between industry, training institutions and government.

NAACAM has been actively contributing to curriculum reform discussions under the Just Energy Transition framework and through the collaborative High Gear programme, which aims to better align technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college training with industry requirements.

“Over the next decade, mechanics or artisans won’t disappear, they’ll evolve. We’re working with the Setas to upgrade existing modules so that programmes that are already focused on, for example, electrical or mechanical maintenance, will now also integrate cleaner production and battery technology,” Molobele adds.

She stresses that this process is incremental, not abrupt, adding that it is not about turning automotive component workers into electric vehicle (EV) specialists overnight, but rather about gradually integrating clean manufacturing principles into existing training, thereby ensuring that the newer initiatives do not abandon foundational skills that the sector still requires.

Ongoing research, including a forthcoming study funded by the International Labour Organisation, will identify the specific occupations and skills sets emerging from localisation opportunities tied to new technologies. The findings, Molobele says, will guide future training and reskilling initiatives, particularly for retrenched workers and those in at-risk roles.

Inclusion, Industry Integration

Beyond technology readiness, NAACAM’s skills strategy is also focused on inclusivity and transformation across the automotive value chain. Molobele acknowledges that while progress has been made in integrating women and youth, deeper structural barriers remain.

Over the next five years, the association will prioritise inclusion across gender, disability and youth development, with targeted programmes for women in leadership and technical roles. Partnerships with TVET colleges remain central, particularly for work-integrated learning placements and qualification development.



The strategic aims for 2025 to 2030 place EV readiness and localisation-linked training, as well as AI and automation awareness, at the centre of NAACAM’s skills agenda. This includes supporting research, industry advocacy as well as representation and projects that make training more accessible and impactful.

“Our aim is not only to prepare people for the jobs of tomorrow but to ensure that transformation happens in real, measurable ways. If South Africa wants to stay competitive, every worker – from artisan to engineer – must be equipped for the technologies reshaping our industry,” she concludes.