While Africa's automotive industry quietly assembled over a million vehicles in 2022, the dramatic story unfolding from Morocco's surging factories to Nigeria's homegrown SUVs reveals a continent shifting gears into a new economic era.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, South Africa accounted for 56% of total African vehicle production with 535,126 units assembled
- Morocco produced 424,000 vehicles in 2022, marking a 12.5% increase from 2021 due to new Renault and Stellantis plants
- Egypt's automotive production reached 120,500 units in 2022, primarily light vehicles from local assembly of Nissan and Chevrolet models
- Africa's new car sales reached 1.2 million units in 2022, up 12% from 2021 driven by South Africa recovery
- South Africa's new vehicle sales hit 529,708 units in 2022, a 4.2% decline due to load shedding and inflation
- Morocco's domestic sales grew to 158,000 units in 2022, boosted by Dacia Sandero popularity
- South Africa's automotive sector employed 110,000 direct workers in 2022, down 2% from 2021
- Morocco's auto industry created 220,000 jobs by 2022, with 40,000 added since 2020
- Egypt's automotive workforce stood at 85,000 in 2022, including 25,000 in assembly plants
- South Africa attracted $1.2bn FDI in automotive in 2022, mainly for EV transitions
- Morocco received €2.5bn FDI in auto sector cumulative by 2022 from Renault and Stellantis
- Egypt secured $800m FDI for MG and BYD plants in 2022
- South Africa vehicle exports reached 384,126 units in 2022, valued at R160bn ($9bn)
- Morocco exported 365,000 vehicles in 2022, 85% of production to Europe
- Egypt's auto exports grew 25% to 35,000 units in 2022, mainly to Arab markets
The African automotive industry is growing unevenly, with South Africa and Morocco dominating vehicle production.
Employment and Labor
- South Africa's automotive sector employed 110,000 direct workers in 2022, down 2% from 2021
- Morocco's auto industry created 220,000 jobs by 2022, with 40,000 added since 2020
- Egypt's automotive workforce stood at 85,000 in 2022, including 25,000 in assembly plants
- Nigeria's Innoson employed 7,000 workers in 2022, up 20% with new plant expansions
- Kenya's auto sector jobs totaled 15,000 in 2022, 60% in repair and maintenance
- Ghana's vehicle assembly employed 4,500 people in 2022, focusing on skilled welders
- Algeria's auto factories hired 45,000 workers in 2022, with training programs for 5,000 youth
- Tunisia's automotive cluster employed 90,000, exporting labor services worth $1bn in 2022
- Ethiopia's manufacturing jobs in autos reached 12,000 in 2022, 30% women
- Zimbabwe's Willowvale employed 2,800 in 2022, with apprenticeships for 500
- Africa's auto industry total employment was 1.2 million in 2022, including informal sector
- South Africa lost 6,000 auto jobs in 2022 due to production slowdowns
- Morocco trained 10,000 workers via OFPPT for auto sector in 2022
- Egypt's vocational training covered 15,000 auto technicians in 2022
- Nigeria's auto mechanic workforce estimated at 500,000 informal jobs in 2022
- Kenya's youth employment in two-wheelers assembly hit 8,000 in 2022
- Ghana upskilled 1,200 workers in EV repair through 2022 programs
- Algeria's localization policy created 12,000 parts manufacturing jobs in 2022
- Tunisia's women in auto sector rose to 35% of 90,000 jobs in 2022
- Ethiopia's truck assembly added 2,500 jobs for locals in 2022
- Zimbabwe's spare parts sector employed 10,000 traders in 2022
- South Africa's OEMs employed 36,000 in manufacturing alone in 2022
- Morocco's Tangier plant alone had 20,000 direct employees in 2022
- Egypt's Chinese joint ventures hired 10,000 Egyptians in 2022
- Nigeria invested in 2,000 technician trainings via NASENI in 2022
- Kenya's Isuzu East Africa employed 1,200, exporting skills regionally
- Ghana's auto hub targeted 10,000 jobs by 2025, creating 2,000 in 2022
- Algeria's Fiat plant added 1,500 jobs in Setif by 2022
- Tunisia sent 5,000 auto engineers to Europe on contract in 2022
- Ethiopia's EV battery training employed 1,000 in pilot programs 2022
Employment and Labor Interpretation
The African automotive industry's job map is a patchwork of promise and peril, where Morocco's booming factories and Tunisia's brain exports shine, yet South Africa's struggles and Nigeria's vast informal sector remind us that building a continent-wide engine of prosperity requires more than just assembling parts.
Exports, Imports, and Trade
- South Africa vehicle exports reached 384,126 units in 2022, valued at R160bn ($9bn)
- Morocco exported 365,000 vehicles in 2022, 85% of production to Europe
- Egypt's auto exports grew 25% to 35,000 units in 2022, mainly to Arab markets
- Nigeria exported 2,500 Innoson vehicles to West Africa in 2022
- Kenya exported 1,200 Isuzu trucks to East Africa community in 2022
- Ghana imported 42,000 used vehicles in 2022, 90% from USA and Europe
- Algeria imported 200,000 CKD/SKD kits in 2022 worth $2.5bn
- Tunisia exported $2.1bn in auto parts in 2022, 80% wiring to EU
- Ethiopia imported $1.2bn vehicles and parts in 2022, 70% used Japanese
- Zimbabwe imported 11,000 vehicles in 2022, mostly from Japan via Dubai
- Africa's total vehicle exports were 800,000 units in 2022, 75% from South Africa and Morocco
- South Africa's top export market was UK with 80,000 units in 2022
- Morocco's exports to France hit 150,000 vehicles in 2022 under free trade agreement
- Egypt exported 20,000 cars to Libya and Sudan in 2022
- Nigeria's parts exports to ECOWAS reached $100m in 2022
- Kenya's two-wheeler exports to Uganda were 5,000 units in 2022
- Ghana reduced used car imports by 10% to 38,000 units via policy in 2022
- Algeria's CKD imports from India rose 30% to 50,000 kits in 2022
- Tunisia's harness exports to Germany were $800m in 2022
- Ethiopia exported 500 locally assembled tractors to neighbors in 2022
Exports, Imports, and Trade Interpretation
From South Africa and Morocco racing as the continent's established export champions to nations like Nigeria and Ethiopia tentatively revving their own industrial engines, Africa's automotive story is a lopsided but dynamic grid of global assembly lines, strategic part-swapping, and a stubborn used-car lane that most local markets are still stuck in.
Investments and FDI
- South Africa attracted $1.2bn FDI in automotive in 2022, mainly for EV transitions
- Morocco received €2.5bn FDI in auto sector cumulative by 2022 from Renault and Stellantis
- Egypt secured $800m FDI for MG and BYD plants in 2022
- Nigeria's Innoson got $50m local investment for expansion in 2022
- Kenya's Isuzu plant received $30m Japanese FDI upgrade in 2022
- Ghana announced $200m auto city project with Indian partners in 2022
- Algeria invested DZD 100bn ($750m) in local assembly incentives 2022
- Tunisia attracted €300m FDI for wiring harness plants in 2022
- Ethiopia's Hyundai plant got $100m Korean FDI commitment in 2022
- Zimbabwe approved $25m Chinese investment for bus assembly in 2022
- Total FDI inflows to African auto industry hit $4.5bn in 2022, led by North Africa
- South Africa's BMW expanded Rosslyn plant with R4.2bn ($240m) in 2022
- Morocco's Stellantis invested €300m in Kénitra for hybrid production 2022
- Egypt's JAC Motors FDI totaled $150m for new factory in 2022
- Nigeria courted $1bn FDI pledges at 2022 auto summit
- Kenya's Simba Corp invested KES 2bn ($15m) in EV charging 2022
- Ghana's Suzuki plant FDI from Japan was $40m in 2022 phase one
- Algeria's Mercedes plant received €200m FDI for A-Class production 2022
- Tunisia's Lear Corp expanded with $50m FDI for seats in 2022
- Ethiopia sought $500m FDI for integrated auto park by 2022 end
- Zimbabwe's Sino-Zim trucks got $15m FDI for heavy vehicles 2022
- South Africa's Ford Silverton R1bn ($55m) retooling in 2022
- Morocco's Yazaki invested €100m in electronics FDI 2022
- Egypt's Ghabbour Auto $200m for Chery assembly line 2022
- Nigeria's StallION $80m for Ashok Leyland trucks FDI equivalent 2022
- Kenya attracted $100m Chinese FDI for bus manufacturing 2022
- Ghana's Kantamanto $25m Japanese FDI for LCVs 2022
Investments and FDI Interpretation
While North Africa drives the lion's share of investment and South Africa accelerates its electric future, the continent’s auto industry is a mosaic of ambition, revealing both the promise of a connected global supply chain and the stark reality of uneven development.
Production and Manufacturing
- In 2022, South Africa accounted for 56% of total African vehicle production with 535,126 units assembled
- Morocco produced 424,000 vehicles in 2022, marking a 12.5% increase from 2021 due to new Renault and Stellantis plants
- Egypt's automotive production reached 120,500 units in 2022, primarily light vehicles from local assembly of Nissan and Chevrolet models
- Nigeria assembled 12,000 vehicles in 2022 through Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, focusing on SUVs and buses for domestic market
- Kenya's Associated Vehicle Assemblers produced 4,200 pickup trucks in 2022, mainly Isuzu D-Max models
- Ghana's Kantamanto Assembly Plant output 2,500 units in 2022, specializing in Mitsubishi and Toyota light commercial vehicles
- Algeria manufactured 67,000 vehicles in 2022 via Renault and local plants, up 15% year-on-year
- Tunisia produced 15,300 cars in 2022, with VW and Renault models dominating assembly lines
- Ethiopia's Debub Truck Assembly Plant assembled 1,800 trucks in 2022, focusing on heavy-duty vehicles for infrastructure
- Zimbabwe's Willowvale Motor Industries output 3,500 units in 2022, repairing and assembling Mazda and Toyota vehicles
- Total African vehicle production in 2022 was 1.05 million units, a 5.2% recovery from pandemic lows
- South Africa's passenger car production fell 9.1% to 384,000 units in 2022 amid global chip shortages
- Morocco's CKD assembly capacity expanded to 700,000 units by 2023 with Stellantis Tangier plant at full operation
- Egypt's Bahrija plant produced 45,000 Nissan Sunny sedans in 2022 for export to Middle East
- Nigeria's StallION Group assembled 8,000 Ashok Leyland buses in 2022 for public transport
- Kenya's Thika Garage output 2,100 three-wheelers in 2022 under Bajaj license
- Ghana imported 85% CKD kits for 2022 production, aiming for local parts integration by 2025
- Algeria's mechanical industry ministry reported 45% localization rate in vehicle parts by end-2022
- Tunisia's automotive cluster produced 1.2 million parts in 2022, exporting to Europe
- Ethiopia plans 50,000 unit capacity by 2025, starting from 5,000 in 2022 across four plants
- Zimbabwe invested $10m in Willowvale upgrades, boosting production efficiency 20% in 2022
- South Africa exported 384,000 vehicles in 2022, 72% of production, mainly to EU under AGOA
- Morocco's Yncrea plant assembled 120,000 Peugeot 208 units in 2022 for Europe
- Egypt's GV Automotors produced 25,000 MG cars in 2022 under Chinese license
- Nigeria's Proforce vehicles assembled 500 armored cars in 2022 for security forces
- Kenya's mobility pressworks made 15,000 motorcycle frames in 2022
- Ghana's assembly plants achieved 18% growth in truck production to 1,200 units in 2022
- Algeria assembled 20,000 Fiat models in 2022 at Setif plant
- Tunisia exported 90% of 2022 production, 13,800 units to France and Italy
- Ethiopia's iron and steel input for autos rose 30% to support 2022 assembly growth
Production and Manufacturing Interpretation
While Morocco and Egypt race to challenge South Africa's traditional dominance, the continent’s automotive story remains a tale of two engines: a few major hubs accelerating into global supply chains, while a determined long tail of nations slowly but stubbornly assembles its own path forward, piece by piece.
Sales and Market Size
- Africa's new car sales reached 1.2 million units in 2022, up 12% from 2021 driven by South Africa recovery
- South Africa's new vehicle sales hit 529,708 units in 2022, a 4.2% decline due to load shedding and inflation
- Morocco's domestic sales grew to 158,000 units in 2022, boosted by Dacia Sandero popularity
- Egypt sold 180,000 vehicles in 2022, with Chinese brands like MG capturing 25% market share
- Nigeria's new car sales plummeted to 11,000 units in 2022 amid forex shortages and high import duties
- Kenya registered 78,000 new vehicles in 2022, led by Toyota Hilux pickups at 22% share
- Ghana's vehicle sales reached 45,000 units in 2022, up 15% with Toyota dominating at 40%
- Algeria sold 234,000 new cars in 2022, a 20% increase after import liberalization
- Tunisia's market contracted to 28,000 units in 2022 due to economic slowdown
- Ethiopia imported 32,000 vehicles in 2022, mostly Japanese used cars for sales
- Zimbabwe's new vehicle sales were 12,500 units in 2022, driven by commercial vehicles
- Used car imports dominated African markets at 70% of total sales volume in 2022
- South Africa's light commercial vehicle sales rose 8% to 92,000 units in 2022
- Morocco's EV sales started with 500 units in 2022, mainly Renault Zoe
- Egypt's passenger car segment sold 120,000 units, 67% of total market in 2022
- Nigeria's SUV sales accounted for 55% of new registrations at 6,050 units in 2022
- Kenya's passenger car sales grew 10% to 25,000 units amid middle-class expansion
- Ghana saw hybrid sales rise to 2,500 units in 2022, 5.5% of market
- Algeria's Renault Symbol was top seller with 45,000 units in 2022
- Tunisia's market share of French brands was 60% with 16,800 units sold in 2022
- Ethiopia's taxi segment bought 15,000 Toyota Corollas in 2022 for ride-hailing
- Zimbabwe's truck sales hit 4,200 units, 34% of total sales in 2022
- South Africa's average new car price rose 12% to R450,000 ($25,000) in 2022
- Morocco projected 2023 sales at 170,000 units, 8% growth from 2022
- Egypt's two-wheelers sold 1.2 million units in 2022, led by Bajaj
- Nigeria's aftermarket parts sales valued at $2.5bn in 2022
- Africa's automotive retail market valued at $45bn in 2022, with 5% CAGR projected
Sales and Market Size Interpretation
The African auto market is a tale of patchwork momentum, where South Africa's recovery stitches together a 12% continental rise while elsewhere economic headwinds slam the brakes, though the enduring reign of used imports and rugged pickups proves the continent's roads demand resilience over luxury.
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