Beijing Automotive to produce minibuses in S. Africa

Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd has set up a joint venture in South Africa to assemble minibuses, according to a report in gasgoo.com on Tuesday.

Beijing Automotive and South Africa's Industrial Development Corp invested 41 million yuan ($6.53 million) to set up a joint venture, known as BAW SA, with the two companies holding 51 percent and 49 percent stakes, respectively.

The joint venture will produce minibuses with 16 seats, which will be used for taxis and will compete with Toyota's minibus model Quantum.

BAW SA will transform a telephone factory into a SKD parts assembly plant, with an annual production capacity of 9,600 vehicles. It will expand the factory with an additional investment of 1.4 billion yuan.

The joint venture has signed a cooperation agreement with the South Africa National Taxi Council.

mengfanbin@chinadaily.com.cn