WINDHOEK, Namibia – Groupe PSA and the Namibian government have signed an investment agreement to allow a joint-venture agreement between Groupe PSA and Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) to assemble Opel and Peugeot vehicles in Walvis Bay.
Walvis Bay is a remote port on the Namibia coast once famous for whaling and fishing.
Assembly will start later this year with an annual target volume of 5000 units by 2020 to meet the SACU* countries market demand.
The Peugeot 3008 SUV (pictured) will be the first output from the plant; more products will follow to meet demand.
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This agreement is part of the strategic profitable growth plan, “Push to Pass”, intended to satisfy customers expectations in all the regions in which the Group operates. It realises Groupe PSA’s ambition to develop internationally by directly producing 70% of the vehicles sold in the region within Middle East and Africa.
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Executive vice-resident for Groupe PSA’s Middle East and Africa Region, Jean-Christophe Quemard, explained in a media release: “This investment in Namibia is part of Groupe PSA’s long-term strategy to increase sales in Africa and the Middle East and is consistent with our target of a million vehicle sales in 2025.
”This new capacity will supply regional markets with products in line with our Opel and Peugeot customers’ expectation”.
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On a local level, the managing director of Peugeot Citroën South Africa said: “We’re extremely proud of the investment into Africa by PSA. Peugeot has a long-standing heritage in Africa and this is a continuation of our commitment and efforts to reach new heights.”
The assembly plant, it;s said, will result in greater production capacity for the South African market and will ensure that Peugeot remains competitive in that market.
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