The AIDC established a Skills Development and Training (SD&T) Department to identify sectors with skills deficiencies, and develop programmes to equip individuals with skills to drive economic growth through the automotive industry across South Africa.
The main focus of the AIDC is to be the Government’s impetus for exploring solutions for overcoming skills shortages in the automotive industry.
The AIDC has a vision to grow the local automotive manufacturing industry from the current approximated 650 000 vehicles per annum, to around 1.2 million vehicles per annum by 2020; as well as achieve local content production to 70% over the next few years. It is imperative for the automotive industry to possess a skilled workforce to reach these targets.
- address scarce and critical skills in the automotive sector,
- build an NQF Level 3 and 4 talent pipeline programme
- enhance trade and artisan development initiatives through a collaborative process thus improving global competitiveness and improving local manufacturing,
- support talent pipeline strategies as a feeder into the automotive sector,
- provide mentoring and coaching, project management training, and developing learning material,
- securing funding to support its training objectives, and
- attract students displaying exceptional matric grades and wish to pursue technical careers such as engineering