Jeep's Renegade. Stellantis SA gaining traction in South Africa. Photo: File
A key component of Mike Whitfield, the CEO of Stellantis South Africa’s vision for growth in South Africa is now in place after Eurorepar, a new independent aftermarket brand of Stellantis, launched in South Africa.
Stellantis said in a statement this week Eurorepar offered a comprehensive range of high-quality, cost-effective parts and services to owners of these brands whose vehicles had surpassed the initial warranty and service plan period.
This ushers in a new era of aftermarket care for owners of Opel, Peugeot, Jeep brand, Citroën, Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Fiat Stellantis brands in South Africa. Its Maserati marque is distributed by a separate company.
Stellantis is the auto giant, which is the fourth largest in the world, was formed in 2021 through the merging of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot Citroen.
There has previously been an issue in gaining parts locally.
Business Report in conversation with Whitfield in May asked him what Stellantis planned to do about this spare parts issue.
At the time Whitfield said they planned to regain South Africans’ trust on part, adding that the firm aimed to make spare parts affordable, available so that customers didn’t experience downtime and to ensure its vehicles had good residual values.
Stellantis South Africa’s general manager of after sales, Russell Dewee, said, “Eurorepar South Africa saw a critical need to cater to vehicle owners who were no longer covered under warranty or service plans.”
Stellantis said price and availability of spare parts had the greatest impact on cost of ownership once a vehicle’s warranty and maintenance or service plan expired. These factors combined potentially force vehicle owners to seek more cost-effective solutions – invariably away from the original brand.
Genuine parts from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) were what the vehicle was designed to use to a certain specification. But realising the customer reality for vehicles out of plan, Stellantis had established a wholly owned subsidiary, Eurorepar to provide alternative, affordable, and approved parts at a fraction of the price of the original, it said.
Dewee said, “By providing tailored support for these vehicles, backed by a reputation for reliability and excellence reflective of its association with Stellantis, Eurorepar South Africa is empowering customers with the confidence to maintain and repair their vehicles with OEM-quality, performance-focused aftermarket parts.”
Stellantis said price and availability of spare parts had the greatest impact on cost of ownership once a vehicle’s warranty and maintenance or service plan expired. These factors combined potentially force vehicle owners to seek more cost-effective solutions – invariably away from the original brand.
Eurorepar said it supplied these quality parts directly for all the vehicles built across the 14 brands worldwide and the seven available in South Africa. By leveraging its global network, Stellantis, which was the third largest OEM in the world, can source alternative parts for all vehicles outside their initial warranty and service plans for at least half the price of the genuine OEM parts.
Stellantis sees South Africa as one of the key destinations for investment and has invested R3 billion assembly plant in the Coega Special Economic Zone, near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, scheduled to open in 2026.
Stellantis announced in 2023 that it would produce the Peugeot Landtrek bakkie at the facility.
A key focus of the firm is to target “affordable mobility” in South Africa and Africa amid consumers facing financial pressure.
With this in mind Stellantis South Africa is planning a pipeline of affordable cars.
Vehicle sales have been depressed in South Africa.
However, this week Naamsa | the Automotive Business Council released data that showed new vehicle sales increased 1.5% to 44 229 units in July, an increase that could be the turning point for a better second half of the year.
Export sales, which are crucial to keep the local vehicle manufacturing industry financially viable, however, decreased sharply by 12 671 units, or 33.2%, to 25 461 units in July.
New vehicle sales have fallen every month to July this year bar April, where it increased by only 2.2% compared with April 2023. July’s new passenger car sales at 29 934 units increased by 1 894 cars, or by 6.8% compared with the same month in 2023.
BUSINESS REPORT