Peugeot plant fails production target
Only 90 out of the planned 5 000 vehicles by 2020 have been assembled so far at the Walvis Bay Peugeot plant, the minister of industrialisation, trade and SME development, Tjekero Tweya, confirmed in parliament last week.
Tweya said the plant assembled is gearing up to produce more as soon as it has overcome its development and de-risking phase.
He made these remarks when responding to questions from the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) member of parliament, Jennifer van den Heever, who asked Tweya about the status of the plant and how many vehicle are completed thus far.
He said the business plan of the assembly plant is premised on gradual entry into the market, and it is also anchored on two marketing agreements with South African distribution companies, ultimately determining production figures as the plant goes through its natural growth trajectory.
With regard to the pricing of vehicles produced, Tweya said the plant is a commercial business and its pricing is, therefore, a decision of the board as underpinned by its prevailing business plan and the underlying business imperative.
Employment
On employment, he said the facility employed 22 staff members permanently and can take up to 50 workers when it is at full operation scale.
“The management cadre consist of six members of which three are females, and I am pleased to report that we have more females in the management structures of the Peugeot assembly plant,” said Tweya.
He added that all skilled staff are Namibians whereas the plant provides an opportunity for Namibia to increase production capacity in the automotive sector.
In his view, it brings opportunities of skilled jobs, technology transfer and the development of limited bilateral and regional value chains in the 330 million market of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) economy.
“The Peugeot plant, with all support rendered by all stakeholders and Namibians in particular, can create enormous opportunities,” said Tweya.
The multi-million dollar Peugeot plant was inaugurated in December 2018. - Nampa
Tweya said the plant assembled is gearing up to produce more as soon as it has overcome its development and de-risking phase.
He made these remarks when responding to questions from the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) member of parliament, Jennifer van den Heever, who asked Tweya about the status of the plant and how many vehicle are completed thus far.
He said the business plan of the assembly plant is premised on gradual entry into the market, and it is also anchored on two marketing agreements with South African distribution companies, ultimately determining production figures as the plant goes through its natural growth trajectory.
With regard to the pricing of vehicles produced, Tweya said the plant is a commercial business and its pricing is, therefore, a decision of the board as underpinned by its prevailing business plan and the underlying business imperative.
Employment
On employment, he said the facility employed 22 staff members permanently and can take up to 50 workers when it is at full operation scale.
“The management cadre consist of six members of which three are females, and I am pleased to report that we have more females in the management structures of the Peugeot assembly plant,” said Tweya.
He added that all skilled staff are Namibians whereas the plant provides an opportunity for Namibia to increase production capacity in the automotive sector.
In his view, it brings opportunities of skilled jobs, technology transfer and the development of limited bilateral and regional value chains in the 330 million market of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) economy.
“The Peugeot plant, with all support rendered by all stakeholders and Namibians in particular, can create enormous opportunities,” said Tweya.
The multi-million dollar Peugeot plant was inaugurated in December 2018. - Nampa
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