The National Association of Automotive Components and Allied Manufacturers (Naacam) has announced that it will host the inaugural Naacam Show at the Durban International Convention Centre, from April 5 to 7, 2017.

The show will be hosted every two years as a platform from which to grow the automotive components and related manufacturing sectors in South Africa, and will run concurrently and in partnership with the Durban Automotive Cluster’s National Localisation Indaba, says Naacam president Dave Coffey.

The objectives of the show are to showcase the capability of the South African automotive industry and, in particular, the components sector; to link potential Tier 2 and 3 suppliers to Tier 1 suppliers; to attract multinational components suppliers and global purchasing managers to participate; to facilitate the transfer of technology to local suppliers; and to link and develop black suppliers in the automotive supply chain.

Coffey says a unified effort is required from all South Africa’s automotive stakeholders, including government, to respond to the challenges facing South Africa’s manufacturers. These include increased market access; higher local content on locally assembled vehicles; export readiness, which must be underpinned by appropriate enabling legislation and continuous improvement in the supply chain; and maintaining international certified standards.

“In the context of weak local new-vehicle sales, an increase in the range and volumes of locally manufactured components is essential to the survival and growth of components manufacturing companies in South Africa,” says Coffey. “The Naacam Show has a big vision in driving this objective.”

The show will be managed by Inkanyezi Events. It will include an exhibition, workshops and networking functions.

The Naacam Show is open to all stakeholders in the automotive value chain, including non-Naacam members.