Testament to its longstanding commitment to the southern African market and to its dedication to driving progress in the local transport industry, Scania Southern Africa has invested in a new RPC. The investment comes exactly a year after the company relocated its head office from its long-time Aeroton base to a state-of-the-art facility in Constantia Kloof, reflecting its commitment to growth and innovation in the region.
“For over 30 years, Scania has been a steadfast partner to the local automotive, transport and logistics industries in southern Africa. Our dedication to this market extends beyond selling vehicles; we are here to create lasting solutions to the industry and contribute meaningfully to the economy and local communities in which we operate,” says Erik Bergvall, MD of Scania Southern Africa.
Scania’s presence in southern Africa, adds Bergvall, is more than just a business; it is about partnerships, investments and trust. The company, he says, has over the years collaborated with its customers, employees and industry partners to shape the future of industry in southern Africa. The opening of the RPC reflects the company’s confidence in the region’s long-term potential and its ambition to support economic growth, job creation and sustainable development.
“With this facility, we are positioning ourselves to best serve our customers with high-quality, locally assembled products, ensuring faster delivery times and enhanced support,” says Bergvall. “One exciting aspect about this development is the increased capacity and efficiency of our assembly operations. As demand for Scania’s sustainable solutions grows, we must have the infrastructure to meet this demand in an efficient way. This plant provides us with the capability to increase production, ensuring that we remain agile and responsive to the needs of our customers across southern Africa.”
On time and within budget
The project, which commenced in mid-2023, was successfully completed in late 2024, with occupation taking place just before Christmas last year. Built under a strategic collaboration with Redefine Properties, the project was completed on time and within budget, confirms Christian Håkansson, RPC manager at Scania South Africa.
“When the decision was made to relocate our head office from Aeroton to Roodepoort, we carefully considered various options within South Africa,” explains Håkansson. “After a thorough evaluation, we chose to consolidate Scania’s administrative operations into a single site and build a new production plant in Nasrec, Johannesburg.”
As the years passed, the previous assembly plant in Aereton was expanded as market needs dictated. However, the expansions were just added on, and the facility was never purpose-built, thus impacting efficiencies. One of the benefits of moving the assembly plant within the same area is that Scania managed to retain 100% of its staff, meaning that the company retained all of its important production skills.
Facility overview
With 10 500 m² under roof, the new Scania RPC has the capacity to assemble 3 200 units a year, encompassing both trucks and bus chassis on the same line.
With a staff complement of 83 people, the facility has a 14,5% female representation, which Cornelius Viljoen, workshop manager RPC South Africa at Scania South Africa, is proud of. While there is room for improvement, Viljoen says this achievement has taken greater effort to achieve and the company has plans to further improve in its quest to put more women into ‘blue collar’ working environments.
By consolidating various functions at one location, including parts warehouse and logistics, the facility maximises production efficiencies. “Our new assembly plant is strategically located next to our parts storage and distribution centre, which strengthens synergies between our assembly operations and parts supply chain,” says Bergvall. “This integration translates into faster turnaround times, improved logistics and customer experience.”
Consolidating various functions at one site has also helped Scania reduce its environmental impact. “By consolidating our warehouse and assembly plant on the same site, we are reducing our carbon (CO₂) significantly. To provide context, we are currently recycling 98% of all waste at the facility, and our target in 2025 is to further improve on this number through new packaging technologies,” explains Håkansson.
Evolution in operation
Commenting on the significance of the new assembly plant, Bergvall says the facility represents an evolution in Scania’s operations. The expansion, he adds, also means greater job opportunities, youth development and a stronger contribution to the South African economy. By investing in local talent and infrastructure, Scania is not only supporting economic growth, but is also helping shape the future of transport in the region.
Bergvall says the investment is proof of Scania’s commitment to strengthening its presence in key markets in the world. This, he says, reflects the confidence the company has in the African market – its potential to drive sustainable and innovative transport solutions.
“Scania’s focus on efficiency, sustainability and innovation will not only benefit the local market, but also contribute to our overall worldwide mission to drive the shift towards sustainable transport solutions. As we look ahead, our goal is to be at the forefront of a future where transport is smarter, cleaner and more efficient,” concludes Bergvall.
