[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he development and promotion of a cohesive automotive strategy for the African continent is gaining new impetus due to the strategic vision and guidance of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM).
A delegation from AAAM, led by Jeff Nemeth, Chairman of AAAM as well as President and CEO of Ford Motor Company Sub-Saharan Africa Region, is currently visiting Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, to engage with government and industry leaders.
The programme includes high-level discussions with President Muhammadu Buhari, along with government ministers and representatives from Nigeria’s National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the National Automotive Manufacturers’ Association (NAMA). This is intended to create the framework for policy development to support the growth of the local industry.
AAAM was inaugurated on 25 November 2015 by founding members BMW, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen, focusing on key markets of the African Continent.
“The aim of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers is to unlock the economic potential of the African continent by promoting a policy environment that is conducive to the development of the automotive sector,” says Jeff Nemeth, Chairman of AAAM as well as President and CEO of Ford Motor Company Sub-Saharan Africa Region.
“As the African continent becomes increasingly important within the global economy, it is crucial that we develop an auto sector strategy backed up by incremental investments in infrastructure, skills development and in-market localization programmes. This will make new vehicles more affordable, boost the industrialization of the economy and lead to the growth of middle income households, which will be the main driver for new vehicle sales,” Nemeth says.
