Solar Power Drives Manufacturing Resilience for Wheel Production and Repair Excellence

Maxion Wheels, a leading producer and supplier of wheels for passenger and commercial vehicles, has partnered with Terra Firma, a South African commercial and industrial solar and storage solutions provider, to launch a 2.9MWp solar project at their Johannesburg manufacturing facility. This strategic energy initiative directly impacts the broader automotive repair and maintenance sector by ensuring consistent production quality and supply reliability.

The carport and ground mount solar installation supplies approximately 20% of the facility's annual energy needs, reducing Maxion's reliance on the national grid and providing crucial protection against energy related tariff increases. For repair shops and service centres dependent on consistent wheel availability, this energy security translates to improved parts supply reliability.

The project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5 100 tonnes annually, supporting environmental goals across the automotive repair value chain. A second phase of additional rooftop solar capacity is scheduled for completion in Q1 2026, with potential integration of a Battery Energy Storage System for energy arbitrage and backup power.

South Africa's automotive industry contributes 5.3% of GDP and supports over 500 000 jobs across the value chain. The repair and maintenance sector forms a critical component of this ecosystem, requiring consistent access to quality components like precision manufactured wheels.

For manufacturers such as Maxion Wheels, where electricity represents one of the largest input costs due to energy intensive processes, managing energy spend proves critical to maintaining competitiveness. This cost control directly benefits repair facilities through more stable component pricing and improved availability.

The Johannesburg plant produces high precision aluminium wheels for major automotive OEM customers, with continuous uptime being mission critical. The facility operates extensive machinery, including various robots, integrated foundry systems and automated conveyor networks around the clock, ensuring consistent supply to repair networks.

"The 60th anniversary of Maxion Wheels South Africa is an opportunity to celebrate our legacy of manufacturing excellence while looking ahead to how we can continue strengthening our leadership and resilience for decades to come," says Milos Despotovic, Managing Director of Maxion Wheels South Africa.

Under a comprehensive multiyear Power Purchase Agreement, Terra Firma developed, designed, engineered and installed the project whilst managing lifetime maintenance operations.