The export of built-up vehicles, which is supposed to be the lifeblood of the South African motor industry, have tumbled by 45 per cent in the first nine months of 2009, compared to the same period a year ago: 208 527 down to 114 665 units. This is a big blow for what had seemed a growing business with huge investment by the parent companies of local operations.
Now the viability of building significant numbers of vehicles in SA is being questioned as there is massive over-capacity in established manufacturing countries, while China makes an appealing case in terms of low costs and improving quality levels.
Toyota, whose parent is having a particularly tough time in the global downturn, continues to lead the way in SA exports, but its total of 39 642 units is a far cry – in fact 55 per cent – down from the 95 146 vehicles shipped a year previously. Volkswagen’s output tumbled in similar fashion – down 56 per cent from 29 188 to 12 852 – but the other German companies, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, fared much better.
However, it must be said that during this period VW had completed its Polo contract, prior to the introduction of a new generation model, but was fortunate to get an extra order to make up for a shortfall in Germany where a scrapping allowance gave a boost to sales.
BMW retained second spot with 25 291 units exported (down 16 per cent) and MBSA shipped 21 956 units, compared to 27 271 units in the first three quarters of last year, which equated to a drop of 19.5 per cent. The only other major exporter, Ford, saw its exports plunge 37.5 per cent from 12 493 units to 7 808 units. GMSA’s Hummer export programme was in run-out as the parent company negotiated to sell the brand to a Chinese maker and only 665 of these units were shipped from SA.
The United States remained the biggest destination outside Africa for SA-built cars with BMW and Mercedes-Benz shipping 37 394 units to this country from the total of 83 211 (down 55 per cent). Other big export markets were Australia (9 754), the UK (9 310), Japan (8 173), France (3 197), Poland (2 846) and Turkey (2 431).
Sales to countries in Africa only fell 40 per cent, going down from 52 640 to 31 454 units, with Toyota accounting for 76 per cent of the total (down from 82 per cent) with 23 799 units shipped. Nissan was the only other significant contributor, with a 14 per cent share from 4 531 units shipped, which was and improvement of 3 per cent in share, even though volume was down 21 per cent.
The most popular destination was Nigeria, taking 7 388 units (all Toyotas), with Toyota and Nissan sharing the 7 738 units that went to Algeria.
