General Motors chairman and chief executive Rick Wagoner this week visited employees, management and dealers at GM South Africa’s Port Elizabeth operations.
General Motors chairman and chief executive Rick Wagoner this week visited employees, management and dealers at GM South Africa’s Port Elizabeth operations.
Wagoner, on his first visit to the country, said GM’s decision to return to South Africa was part of the multinational’s drive to increase its presence around the globe: “We want to grow our presence on the African continent, using a strong South African operation as our base. To achieve this, GM South Africa must reach global benchmark standards in quality, expand local market share and strive to be the best in every facet of our business.”
The GM chairman believes the recent launch of the new Isuzu KB, which marked the biggest, single, product line investment in the history of the company, would support GM’s market share growth in the country.
Thobile Jina, a Spotwelder in Struandale, gave a presentation of the manufacturing practices at the plant to (from left) Jeffrey McGuire (GMSA HR Director), Wagoner, Robert Socia (GMSA president and managing director) and Michael Pearton (GMSA director of vehicle assembly operations).
Socia will be a speaker at the upcoming CAR Conference. The 2004 conference (which will be held in association with Nedbank Vehicle Finance) takes place during the Auto Africa Expo at the Expo Centre (NASREC) in Johannesburg on October 27. For more about the conference’s programme, speakers and booking details, click here.