KANU Commercial Body Construction officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Gqeberha, adjacent to Isuzu Motors South Africa’s Vehicle Conversion and Distribution Centre, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth journey as it strengthens its fabrication capability to deliver specialised commercial vehicle solutions tailored to customer needs across South Africa and key African markets.
KANU Commercial Body Construction, a wholly owned subsidiary of Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) since 2015, has played an integral role in supporting the delivery of specialised vehicle solutions for a wide range of industries and essential services. These include customised applications such as mobile clinics, water tankers and mobile government service units designed to improve access to critical services in remote and underserved communities across South Africa.
The R25 million investment includes relocating the business to a new access-friendly facility with new site features including upgraded fabrication technologies and infrastructure aimed at improving overall product quality, accelerating delivery turnaround times, and ensuring alignment with global body building standards. These upgrades include two new paint booths, a laser cleaning facility designed for enhanced surface area preparation and reduced environmental impact, additional gantry systems as well as new tools and fixtures. The investment also extends to improved staff facilities, including a medical centre, upgraded ablution facilities and a canteen, contributing to a more modern and employee-friendly workplace.
“This investment represents an important milestone for KANU as we continue building a stronger and more competitive fabrication business capable of supporting customer demand across South Africa and the broader African market. The new facility enhances our body application capabilities, provides a considerably improved working environment for our employees and improves operational efficiencies. This positions us well for long-term growth while contributing to local economic development and job creation,” said Ingo Epler-Brandenburg, CEO of KANU Commercial Body Construction.
Strategically located adjacent to IMSAf’s Vehicle Conversion and Distribution Centre in the Aloes Industrial Complex in Wells Estate, Gqeberha, the new facility has been equipped to optimise operational efficiency, improve product quality, and support future expansion into key African markets.
“KANU has been an important part of the ISUZU business in South Africa for many years, and this investment reflects our confidence in the region’s manufacturing potential and future growth opportunities across Africa. Strengthening local manufacturing capability remains critical to building a more resilient automotive industry, deepening localisation, and supporting broader industrial development in South Africa,” said Billy Tom, President of Isuzu Motors South Africa and Chairman of KANU.
The facility is designed to support increased production volumes while maintaining the technical precision required for diverse regional market requirements and complex cross-border logistics. It will also enable KANU to expand its product offering and strengthen its ability to efficiently support emerging opportunities across Africa.
“The opening of this new facility marks an important milestone in KANU’s growth journey and reflects the strong partnership between KANU and Isuzu Motors South Africa. With enhanced fabrication capability, improved operational efficiencies, and advanced technologies now in place, we are well positioned to deliver high-quality vehicle solutions to our customers while supporting future growth opportunities across South Africa and the broader African market,” said Tom.
In addition to enhancing KANU’s operational capability, the investment contributes to local economic development by supporting skills development and creating a modern, improved working environment for KANU’s 150 employees, while strengthening relationships with customers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders.