As JAC Motors South Africa counts down to a full decade of operations in the country, it has reaffirmed its commitment to local economic development by investing more than R500 million in new premises within the Lanseria Smart City development. The investment will support the brand’s operations, which have grown steadily over the past nine years.
JAC Motors SA is the first major corporate participant in the Lanseria Smart City project, which President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in his 2020 State of the Nation Address. The company relocated its head office in the first week of September, with its Parts Warehouse to follow. The new property will be further developed to include a Retail Motor City, lifestyle brands, restaurants and an off-road track for enthusiasts, creating more than 500 jobs.
“With more than 50% year-on-year sales growth over the past two years, we need a larger headquarters because our Ruimsig site no longer meets our capacity requirements,” says Karl-Heinz Göbel, CEO of JAC Motors South Africa. “This opportunity supports our long-term vision, places us closer to the airport, and aligns with our expansion and growth plans for Southern Africa. It also underscores our commitment to South Africa’s economic growth and job creation.”
JAC Motors SA selected the 10-hectare site for its proximity to Lanseria International Airport and the emerging Lanseria Smart City, which will feature advanced infrastructure and transport links. The Lanseria Smart City, a collaboration among the Presidency, the Gauteng Premier’s Office, the City of Tshwane, the City of Johannesburg and Mogale City – and inspired by leading global models – will become South Africa’s first airport-based city.
Since entering the country nearly a decade ago, JAC Motors SA has grown significantly, expanding its dealer network from 10 outlets to more than 60 across Southern Africa and strengthening its parts and aftersales support. The company launched its first bakkie, the X200 1.5-tonne forward-cab, in August 2017. Since then, its product line-up has expanded to include X200 double-cab derivatives, the popular T-Series 1-tonne bakkies, and trucks ranging from three to nine tonnes.
In 2021, JAC Motors SA launched its first battery-electric truck in South Africa and quickly became the country’s leading provider in the Electric Commercial Vehicle (ECV) truck segment. The company has delivered more than 60 N75 EV 4-tonne and X200 EV 1.9-tonne trucks to major fleet operators, including Takealot, Eskom, DSV, Adcock Ingram, Interwaste, DP World and Blue Ribbon Bakery. Collectively, these trucks have travelled more than six million kilometres, delivering significant energy and operational cost savings and reinforcing JAC Motors’ leadership in new-energy trucks.
“Earlier this year, JAC Motors SA received the Best Distributors Award from JAC Motors China, recognising us alongside major international markets, including Mexico, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Brazil,” adds Göbel. “We are ranked among JAC Motors’ global top 10 distributors, and our T-Series ranks among South Africa’s top 10 bakkie brands, demonstrating our significant progress in the local market over nearly a decade.”
A central focus of the expansion is to strengthen JAC Motors SA’s parts and logistics capabilities. The new facility will increase storage capacity and streamline distribution, enabling faster turnaround and improved after-sales support for its dealer network and, importantly, its growing customer base across Southern Africa. Designed for greater efficiency and future growth, the new head office will also enhance integration across sales, after-sales, logistics and dealer services.
“With exciting new products, including the T9 PHEV, JS9 7-seater SUV, X200 2.0L CTi forward-cab, a new 8-tonne battery-electric truck and T6 single-cab 4×4 derivatives, we see significant opportunities for continued growth. Our new facilities are a strategic investment in that future, providing the capacity, resources and ecosystem to support our people, operations, logistics and skills development as we expand across Southern Africa.”
“Our new headquarters marks an important new chapter in JAC Motors’ South African journey,” concludes Göbel. “South Africa remains a strategic right-hand-drive market for our global operations, and this investment demonstrates our confidence in the country’s future, our long-term growth prospects, and the potential of the local automotive sector.”
JAC Motors South Africa has a network of more than 60 dealers across Southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique (independent). This extensive footprint ensures that after-sales service meets global standards, delivering a consistent, positive customer experience across the region.
