( CNN ) -- The smells of oil , tires and hard work surround Monwabisi Bokwe as he stands on the Volkswagen production line . He 's one of the thousands of employees at the auto plant in the South African town of Uitenhage , a cog in Eastern Cape 's crucial sector : car manufacturing . `` It 's not easy working in this industry , it 's got its challenges , '' says Bokwe . `` But I frequently go to the Western Cape and when you see a VW car go down the road and you tell your friend that you were part of that process that puts the car together ... that fills you up with pride . '' Regional economy . After a decade working with Volkswagen cars , Bokwe has seen a lot . As a production operator at the factory in South Africa 's self-proclaimed Garden Town , he 's not far from the ocean in a province known for its auto-sector . `` If you look at the Eastern Cape it 's one of your poorest provinces in the country , '' says Bokwe . `` My understanding is that we 've got about three car factories in the Eastern Cape and I can not imagine what kind of province we would have had those factories not been in the Eastern Cape , '' he continues . David Powels , a native of the region and VW 's managing director in South Africa , says auto-companies in the area are catalysts for economic growth . `` Whilst we employ 4,000 people , we create a multiply effect through the economy , '' he says . One way this effect is made manifest is in the number of companies making car components in the area . In fact , the Eastern Cape Development Corporation says there are 40,000 auto-sector jobs in the province , 75 % of which are created by supplier companies . And it 's not just the jobs VW creates that makes it popular in South Africa . The company 's products dominate the roads , accounting for almost 23 % of South Africa 's passenger car market according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa . That means the company sold more passenger cars in South Africa than any other brand -- a title VW celebrated for the fourth consecutive year in 2012 . But VW is not the only global car brand with production plants and ambition in the region . Auto giants like Toyota , Ford and General Motors have big operations in the Eastern Cape . While Ford is focused on making engines in the country , Toyota has produced some of their best-selling cars in South Africa . The region puts together half of the country 's passenger vehicles , according to the Eastern Cape Development Corporation , but it is also essential for other markets . Over half of South Africa 's vehicle exports are produced there . Engines of growth . What 's changing is where these cars are being sold . While America and Europe have been the key markets , these days more cars are being exported to other African markets . In fact , African countries are the second biggest market for car components made in South Africa after the E.U . It 's this aspect of the market that executives think will drive growth . Brian Olson , vice president of sales , services and marketing at General Motors , says that Africa 's middle class will be buying two and a half million new cars a year by 2020 . Given that current new sales are around 1.7 million vehicles , he 's optimistic about Africa 's future . The auto sector makes up about 7 % of South Africa 's economic output -- a crucial chunk . With the Eastern Cape being so key to the country 's vehicle exports , some compare it to America 's Motor City : Detroit . `` We have Mercedes , GM , Ford and Volkswagen with all the production in the Eastern cape province , '' says Powels . `` So to some extent we could fairly say that we are the Detroit , but with that comes quite a responsibility . If you look at the history of Detroit , it 's gone into decline because of the over dependence on the auto-sector and the number of companies in the auto-sector that went through the very difficult times , '' he continues . `` The auto-sector is an anchor tenant in the province , we are an important driver of growth -- but we have to recognize that that brings risks . '' Risky Business . Challenges are fresh in the minds of the region 's auto executives . In 2013 weeks of strikes meant production lines lost over 45,000 vehicles which translated into lost revenues of about R20 billion -- approximately $ 1.8 billion . It was only after the NAAMSA union , which represents auto workers , negotiated a new pay deal that workers went back to the factories . Another serious issue weighing on the minds of car manufactures is the disposable income in consumers ' pockets . Indeed , the union says that 's why the latest data shows new vehicle sales are falling . With sales of new vehicle at 55,722 in August 2014 , they 're down 1.4 % compared to the same period last year . And these difficulties are clear to executive and workers alike . `` If the Eastern Cape had to close down all its factories , '' Bokwe reflects , `` we will not be a ghost town -- we will become a ghost province . ''
the Eastern Cape 's provides about 7 % of South Africa 's vehicle exports . 4,000 people are employed in The Eastern Cape auto-sector . The auto sector makes up 51 % of South Africa 's economic output . African countries are the second biggest market for South Africa 's automotive component exports .