In 2023, solely 6,000 regionally manufactured or assembled vehicles had been bought in Ghana, a determine that falls wanting the trade’s expectations. Biene, whose outfit operates the VW Assembly plant in Accra, emphasised that this development poses a risk to future investments within the sector.
Volkswagen Group has already invested roughly US$54 million in establishing its Semi Knocked Down (SKD) manufacturing plant in Accra-Tema, with a capability to provide over 12,000 automobiles yearly. However, the low demand for brand new vehicles might hinder additional investments except the federal government implements sure coverage choices successfully.
Biene harassed the significance of limiting the importation of salvaged vehicles, a measure supported by the trade, to spice up the adoption of domestically manufactured automobiles. She additionally highlighted the importance of the Ghana Automotive Development Policy (GADP) however emphasised the necessity for enforcement of key parts, notably the ban on second-hand vehicles and mortgage facilitation for credit score purchases.
“The promising progress of the automotive industry in Ghana is the envy of other African countries, especially in West Africa. However, Ghana is not fully harnessing the opportunities presented by GADP to grow into a thriving new car market,” stated Biene.
As the President of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), Biene believes that implementing the excellent parts of the GADP might quadruple the gross sales quantity within the quick time period. She reiterated Volkswagen’s dedication to Ghana, emphasizing its function within the firm’s African ambition to turn into the main supplier of sustainable mobility on the continent.