Solar project powering Gauteng facility for world’s leading wheel manufacturer is now live
Johannesburg, South Africa – 23 September 2025 — Maxion Wheels (www.maxionwheels.com), the world’s leading producer and supplier of wheels for passenger and commercial vehicles, and Terra Firma (www.terrafirma.africa), South Africa’s leading commercial and industrial (C&I) solar and storage solutions provider, today announced a 2.9 MWp solar project powering Maxion’s manufacturing plant in Johannesburg is now live. The energisation was celebrated at Maxion Wheels South Africa’s 60th anniversary event.
The carport and ground mount solar installation will supply approximately 20% of the facility’s annual energy needs, reducing Maxion’s reliance on the national grid and providing protection against energy-related tariff increases. It will also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 5,100 tonnes per year. A second phase of additional rooftop solar capacity is scheduled for completion in Q1 2026, with the possibility of integrating a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for energy arbitrage and backup power.
Boosting automotive industry competitiveness and sustainability
South Africa’s automotive industry contributes 5.3% of GDP and supports over 500,000 jobs across the value chain. However, the sector is under increasing pressure due to global trade barriers, growing competition and decarbonisation requirements.
For manufacturers such as Maxion Wheels, where electricity is one of the largest input costs due to energy-intensive processes, managing energy spend is critical to maintaining competitiveness. Solar power offers an accessible solution that enables manufacturers to reduce and manage costs, improve resilience and reduce climate impact.
Focus on engineering precision
As the world’s leading manufacturer of steel and aluminium wheels, Maxion Wheels produces approximately 50 million wheels per year across its 31 locations on five continents. The Johannesburg plant produces high-precision aluminium wheels for major automotive OEM customers in South Africa.
Given the plant’s intensive industrial processes, continuous uptime is mission-critical for Maxion. The plant relies on extensive machinery including various robots, integrated foundry systems and automated conveyor networks operating around the clock.
For Terra Firma, this meant ensuring continuous power supply while meeting strict health, safety and operational standards at every step of the solar project deployment process.
Under a comprehensive medium-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Terra Firma financed, designed, engineered and installed the project, and will manage and maintain it for its lifetime. The PPA delivery model offers the cost and GHG emission reduction benefits of solar power, without the capital expenditure or risks of ownership.
Executive quotes
“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,” said Milos Despotovic, Managing Director, Maxion Wheels South Africa. “Integrating renewable energy into our operations marks a significant milestone in our Roadmap Zero strategy towards net-zero emissions by 2040, and reinforces our position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing.”
“We thank Maxion Wheels for entrusting Terra Firma as their energy partner to bring this project to life,” said Grant Berndsen, CEO, Terra Firma. “Together, we’re demonstrating how solar power helps enable long-term sustainability, resilience and global competitiveness for South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector.”
About Maxion Wheels
Maxion Wheels, a leading steel and aluminum wheels supplier, works with global vehicle manufacturers on wheels for personal mobility, transportation, agriculture, defense, and off-highway applications. 10,000 employees operate out of 31 locations in 14 countries on five continents, including state-of-the-art technical centers in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Together they produce 50 million wheels a year, making them one of the world’s largest producers of wheels. To learn more, please visit Maxion Wheels’ website at www.maxionwheels.com.
About Terra Firma
Terra Firma is South Africa’s leading provider of C&I solar and energy storage solutions. Backed by Reunert Limited and AP Møller Capital, the company delivers end-to-end services including the financing, construction and operation of medium to large-scale Solar PV and BESS projects, and offers next-generation energy monitoring through its proprietary COPPER software platform. Since 2012, Terra Firma has completed more than 500 projects for Africa’s leading companies. For more information, visit www.terrafirma.africa.
