Review information for The SouthAfrican Motor Industry (The South Africanmotor industry originally emerged through the assembly ofknock-down kits of parts from abroad. Over the years, thesedeveloped into fully fledged manufacturers. This was largely due tothe active industrial policies of the apartheid government (inpower from 1948 to 1994), which aggressively promoted importsubstitution. Under apartheid, racial discrimination in thecommunities was mirrored by racial Fordism: blacks were largelycondemned to poorly paid unskilled work. This led to manyindustries relying on cheap labor to solve systemically imposedinefficiencies.

In the 1970s, a wave of unionization of blacks took place,eclipsing the older, white- dominated trade unions. By the early1980s, the new (“independent”) unions became increasingly outspokenin opposing the apartheid order. Mass resistance in communities wasparalleled by an upsurge in strike action. In the Mercedes-Benzplant in East London, the resistance became so intense that largeareas of the factory were rendered no-go areas for management.Finally a grouping of workers occupied the plant, damaginginventories and machinery.

The close of the apartheid era alleviated much of the underlyingtension; at the same time, managers began to forge cooperativedeals with unions. At Mercedes-Benz, these included very muchbetter pay and working conditions, new opportunities forup-skilling and career advancement and a range of participativemechanisms, giving workers a real say in the process of production.Today, the plant is one of the most productive car plants in theworld, and its products have the fewest defects of anyMercedes-Benz plant. While previously the plant was marginal, andby the late 1980s under threat of closure, today it is an integralpart of the Mercedes-Benz worldwide production network.)case 3.1 then answer the following questions in accordance with thecriteria below (Write 150 word minimum for each question, pointswill be deducted if each question does not meet the minimum150-word required for each question):

1.       Summarize the study

2.       What lessons does theMercedes-Benz East London plant hold for HR managers worldwide?

3.       Is the experience ofMercedes-Benz in East London relevant to other industries.

4.       If yes, please explain.If not, why not, please explain.