The AFRIK 21 editorial team closes its special week on Mobility and Transport with this exclusive interview with Gael Escribe. The founder and CEO of Nexus Automotive International talks about his company's latest developments and sustainability projects, in particular the recycling of end-of-life car batteries in Africa.
The AFRIK 21 editorial team closes its special week on Mobility and Transport with this exclusive interview with Gael Escribe. The founder and CEO of Nexus Automotive International talks about his company’s latest developments and sustainability projects, in particular the recycling of end-of-life car batteries in Africa.
AFRIK 21 : What can you take away from the One Africa Business Summit organized by your regional organization IAMaga in Cairo, Egypt ?
Gael ESCRIBE: First, we would like to remind that Africa is fully part of N! DNA since its creation in 2014. Indeed, N! was created in order to address emerging markets. Proof of this is: Africa constitutes 4% of the N! global turnover and 15% of the N! member base.
Our main take aways include a confirmation of the need to provide dedicated services for the African Aftermarket and the growing appetite for members and suppliers to be part of our initiative. We understand that support for our members and suppliers needs to be tailor made and that we need to take account of the many regional differences on the continent. In response to the presentations and workshops hosted by 110 industry leaders in Cairo, we committed to the following in the wrap-up to our summit: Developing a government lobby initiative on behalf of the African aftermarket community, providing access to leading anti-counterfeit technology and services for the aftermarket, pioneering digitisation and industry related data services and activities in a growing number of region and facilitating the inauguration of an African Talent Day for the aftermarket incorporating all relevant role players. These resolutions also include : kick-starting an automotive battery recycling project for members in the Indian ocean islands where used batteries are currently “thrown away”, hosting a digital IAMaga Summit in October and organising specific business development sessions between IAMaga suppliers and targeted members during September.
The event was an opportunity for distributors, importers and suppliers in the automotive industry to look at the future of the aftermarket worldwide, and particularly in Africa, which is the leading destination for used vehicles. Does this structuring take sustainability into account?
Used ICE powered vehicles from countries where electrification will accelerate will certainly find their way to Africa. This means that the aftermarket will enjoy an opportunity to extend the life of these vehicles by provide the correct parts and service for them to operate optimally in Africa. The fact that these vehicles will enjoy a second life and that older less reliable and environmentally friendly vehicles will be replaced, will have a positive impact on sustainability.
What is Nexus’ current financial value, and who are your main partners ?
NEXUS is a global group which is comprised of 396 members companies that generate roughly €40b of turnover per annum. Our member partners are leading aftermarket distributors from all over the world in 139 countries Supplier partners number roughly 100 and include most of the major parts manufacturers on the planet.
How do you intend to counter China’s growing influence on the African continent ?
NEXUS will support the development of the markets in Africa and has no intention of countering anything to do with the involvement of China in Africa. In fact, China is an integral part of the global automotive aftermarket and hosts an enormous number of the factories which produce parts for the aftermarket. Most sourcing for Private Label parts distributed by our members globally, are made in China. Chinese vehicle manufacturers are finding strong and growing demand for their products in Africa and NEXUS will make sure to position its members on the continent to provide these vehicles with the required parts and services.
For its second edition, Nexus Climate Day will be held online on October 4, 2024. Why did you opt for digital after Montreal in 2022, and what are the main features of this sustainable development event?
The NEXUS Climate Day aims to federate all the Nexus community around a common cause: sustainability. N! purpose concrete solutions, create initiatives & best practices to have a more sustainable process, that will cover the scopes. During the first edition of the Climate Day which took place in Montreal (Canada), we create some local proofs of concepts (POC) mixing suppliers and members dedicated to recycling, sustainable garage & product. The next edition in October 2023 will be the occasion to insure the follow-up of the POC, to onboard new companies and for sure, new initiatives to complete our Hexagon model below! More information available here: N! Climate Day – Join the future of mobility
Interview by Benoit-Ivan Wansi
