To tap into opportunities arising from the South African automotive industry transforming itself into a global engine for the manufacture and export of vehicles and components, tyres, automotive repairs and maintenance and accessories exhibition Tyrexpo Africa introduced three new business segments and two new knowledge exchange platforms.

The sixth edition of the expo ran from March 8 to 10 in Sandton, Gauteng. It hosted about 100 exhibitors from 19 countries and about 2 000 visitors attended.

“The three new business segments, which include tyres, automotive repair and mainte-nance, services and smart solutions, and tyre sustainability, will offer buyers a more holistic platform for sourcing, aligned to the changing needs of the growing automotive industry in South Africa,” Tyrexpo Africa project director Eileen Hair noted at the opening of the expo last month.

She highlighted the wealth of investment opportunities in the South African automotive industry and the increasing number of companies establishing a presence in the country. Further, the South African government has identified this sector as a key sector of growth, with ongoing automotive industry programmes and policies in the sector to ensure that it becomes a major player in the global market.

A substantial number of people in South Africa were employed in this sector, and, with its growth and expansion, there was a need for the relevant knowledge, skills sets and experience to better meet those market demands and sustain the image within the market sector, Hair said.

Therefore, the organisers introduced the TechTalk Seminar and the Tyrexpo Technical Workshop, which aimed to provide buyers and sellers from the workshop and fleet management companies with the opportunity to share new industry trends, training skills and business best practices in South Africa.

Hair told Engineering News that, with Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) acting manager Clifford Ndlovu urging companies to “leverage GGDA’s global networks for support and emphasising the automotive industry as a key sector of growth in this country”, she believed the expo had a role to play.

Hair stressed that the expo aimed to provide industry players with a new skills base, as well as business solutions to assist in the automotive sector’s growth from abroad, such as from Europe or Asia.

Exhibitor Focus
Mexico and Russia were first-time exhibitors at Tyrexpo Africa this year.

Lithuania-based wholesaler of Russian-manufactured truck and agricultural tyres Protekta A Banilis also exhibited, with the aim to expand into the African and South African markets.

Mexico-based truck and agricultural tyre manufacturer Galgo also explored new ventures in the African market. The company aims to gain market traction through its products, such as its Pre-Q brand for the truck industry and Alltread for the off-the-road and mining industries, as well as rubber for retreading tyres.

Further, Singapore-based international tyre wholesaler Global Tap aimed to introduce and promote the distribution of its Gremax private tyre brand, produced in South Korea. The company has branches in Jet Park, Gauteng; Cape Town, in the Western Cape; and Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal.

Similarly, India-based TVS Tyres explored the opportunity for establishing relationships with importers and distributors on the continent.