Africas most developed car manufacturing hub is at an inflection point, with a drop in domestic output and a surge in imported vehicles, mostly from China.
Competition is intensifying, meanwhile, with the likes of Toyota and Volkswagen vying for market share against electric vehicle producer BYD as well as Chery, Great Wall Motor and Beijing Automotive Group BAIC.
Trade, industry competition deputy minister Zuko Godlimpi told MPs on Wednesday that discussions are under way with several Chinese car makers to manufacture their cars in South Africa instead of importing them.