KANU Commercial Body Construction, a wholly owned subsidiary of Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf), has officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Gqeberha.
The facility is located next to Isuzu Motors South Africa’s Vehicle Conversion and Distribution Centre.
This marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth as it enhances its fabrication capabilities to provide specialised commercial vehicle solutions tailored to customer needs throughout South Africa and key African markets.
“KANU Commercial Body Construction, since 2015, has played an integral role in supporting the delivery of specialised vehicle solutions for a wide range of industries and essential services,” said the group.
“These include customised applications such as mobile clinics, water tankers and mobile government service units designed to improve access to critical services in remote and underserved communities across South Africa.”
The R25 million investment will involve relocating the business to a new, accessible facility equipped with enhanced features.
This includes upgraded fabrication technologies and infrastructure designed to improve overall product quality, accelerate delivery turnaround times, and ensure compliance with global bodybuilding standards.
The upgrades will include two new paint booths, a laser-cleaning facility that enhances surface preparation while minimising environmental impact, additional gantry systems, and new tools and fixtures.
Furthermore, the investment will also enhance employee facilities, including a medical centre, upgraded restroom facilities, and a canteen, creating a more modern and employee-friendly workplace.
“This investment represents an important milestone for KANU as we continue building a stronger and more competitive fabrication business capable of supporting customer demand across South Africa and the broader African market,” said KANU Commercial Body Construction CEO Ingo Epler-Brandenburg.
“The new facility enhances our body application capabilities, provides a considerably improved working environment for our employees and improves operational efficiencies,” said Epler-Brandenburg.
He said that the move positions KANU well for long-term growth while contributing to local economic development and job creation.
KANU Commercial Body Construction
Established in 2015, KANU Commercial Body Construction, a wholly owned subsidiary of Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf), is a fabricator of specialised commercial vehicle body applications and mobility solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Based in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, KANU designs, fabricates, and supplies steel-based commercial vehicle bodies, including drop sides, flatbeds, rollbacks, tippers, water tankers, and custom vehicle solutions tailored to meet the needs of various industries and essential services.
“KANU has been an important part of the ISUZU business in South Africa for many years, and this investment reflects our confidence in the region’s manufacturing potential and future growth opportunities across Africa,” said Isuzu Motors South Africa President Billy Tom.
“Strengthening local manufacturing capability remains critical to building a more resilient automotive industry, deepening localisation, and supporting broader industrial development in South Africa,” he said.
The facility is designed to accommodate higher production volumes while ensuring the technical precision required to meet various regional market demands and cross-border logistics.
Additionally, the brand said it will allow KANU to broaden its product offerings and enhance its capacity to effectively seize emerging opportunities throughout Africa.
“KANU staff assist the community of Nelson Mandela Bay by regularly organising food aid support, shoe drives, and other initiatives to benefit the vulnerable community members of the region,” said the group.
“KANU staff also came up with a plan to create a sustainable, secure kiosk from an obsolete truck van body for an informal trader, who now safely operates her business as KANU’s closest neighbour at the company premises in Markman Township.”
KANU said that it is committed to socio-economic development.
