Sustaining automotive industry growth in South Africa : a review of the first five years of the Motor Industry Development Policy

Abstract

This article traces the causes of tension among stakeholders in carrying forward the MIDP from a historical perspective. It reviews the genesis of the programme and industry performance under the dispensation. Achievements and shortcomings made in the first five years of the MIDP are highlighted. The article argues that to sustain industry gains made in the first five years of the MIDP and to avoid tension among stakeholders arising from the uneven industry performance, a new consensus that specifies weights to be attached to each of the programme objectives has to be developed. This did not happen in 2000 and so the tension within industry interest groups continues.