German giant vehicle brand Volkswagen (VW) plans to manufacture 1000 cars annually from next year in Kigali, Rwanda.
The chair and chief executive of Volkswagen Group South Africa, Thomas Schäfer said that the operation of the factory will start by the end of year 2017, and production will be based on the demands of the local market of vehicles, the New Times reports.
Schäfer said that the VW company will try to ensure that the new factory works as a local manufacturer while is strongly competitive to imported cars with advantages like being environment-friendly, low fuel consumption and gas emission, and quick access to the local market.
“Rwanda is a most amazing country; you have got processes that are super organized. I think Rwanda will be the blueprint for Africa. If we can get in right here, we will get it right in all other places in Africa. But Rwanda will be the first place,” Schäfer said.
The manufacturing agreement signed by two parties permits German company Volkswagen to start assembling cars in Rwanda in 2016. Rwanda government is expecting to create more job opportunities, develop and enhance technology and vocational skills through this project.
Rwanda is the fourth production facility of VW on the Africa continent. The others are South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.
