General Motors South Africa is purchasing an extra 130 000 square metres of land adjacent to its Struandale assembly plant in Port Elizabeth as it continues expanding its local operation.
General Motors South Africa is purchasing an extra 130 000 square metres of land adjacent to its Struandale assembly plant in Port Elizabeth as it continues expanding its local operation.
The purchase is viewed as an integral part of the company’s plan to expand its production capability at the plant, most likely in anticipation of being awarded future export contracts.
The move to expand the South African operation comes at a time when GM’s European operations are being greatly downsized. The company plans to cut 12 000 jobs in the region over the next two years, and production facilities may be closed down as well.
Meanwhile, GMSA’s Isuzu KB launch was awarded the “Best Automotive Event Worldwide” and the “Best Event Outside Europe” awards at the 2004 European Incentive Business Travel Market awards ceremony held in December.
The one-ton pick-up’s introduction was staged in a natural amphitheatre on the dry riverbed of the Swakop River, about 80 kilometres from Swakopmund, Namibia.
“International recognition such as this shows that South Africa does not have to stand back for anyone when it comes to event organisation,” said GMSA sales and marketing director, Malcolm Gauld. “Our team put together a world class event that has received international recognition.”
“This high profile launch provided a very good introduction for the new KB to the extent that our initial volume forecasts have been a bit on the conservative side. The success of this key new model in our range has been instrumental in GMSA moving up to number three in the overall NAAMSA sales log in recent months, with a significant gain in market share.”
