Delays of automotive spares shipments at South African ports are the direct cause of some models of car being hijacked to order, the Retail Motor Industry organisation said at the weekend.
Delays of automotive spares shipments at South African ports are the direct cause of some models of car being hijacked to order, the Retail Motor Industry organisation said at the weekend.
According to a report in on Monday, the organisation – which represents players in the automotive dealerships and aftermarket parts industry – is deeply concerned about a recent order by the customs and excise authorities that led to the blanket inspection of all containers of spare parts arriving in the country.
RMI chief executive Jeff Osborne claims that when there is a shortage of spare parts – because new stock is being held up at borders – orders go out for the hijacking of specific vehicles.
If no spare parts are available there is a danger of cars being hijacked for spares, said Osborne.
The RMI’s quality assurance expert, Giel Steyn, said there had been a serious shortage of body panel replacements for cars from major manufacturers, but the Design Act prevented importation of alternative panels that did not carry an official manufacturer’s brand.
“Because of this shortage, thieves and hijackers are encouraged to provide ’chop shops‘ with a source of supply,” Steyn said. “If there are problems in getting spares and parts into the country, you create a demand that the normal suppliers cannot meet and, as a result, crime rises and people’s lives are on the line.
He said importers faced a big problem of what were known as “alternative” car parts – those not distributed through main dealerships or branded by the auto manufacturers. However, recent customs operations had affected all types of spare parts.
The RMI has repeatedly stated that it respects the need to outlaw counterfeiting. There were, however, “grey areas” and “the courts had yet to iron out some legal complexities”, Steyn said.
“This situation, and the expense of legal proceedings, places importers in the independent replacement parts market in a difficult position, even those who hold international trademarks and who supply the big manufacturers,” he added.
He said the rate of car crime was so high that the annual number of stolen and hijacked vehicles was equivalent to one month’s output from SA’s automotive assemblers.
The RMI noted that a need to provide an ever-growing range of spares had followed a spiralling in the number of models and subcategories (derivatives) of models. There are about 800 models and 1 400 derivatives today, whereas five years ago there were about 250 models and 500 derivatives.
Osborne said delays caused by customs inspections could amount to weeks, “even months, because of insufficient inspection and clearing capacity”. Importers often have to pay demurrage charges of as much as R1 000 a day, Osborne added.
The Imported Replacement Parts Group (IRP), which is affiliated to the RMI, told CARtoday.com in September that delays for up to 30 days were common. “Importers frequently have to fork out from R7 500 to R10 000 to cover a week’s demurrage charges. These unnecessary overheads are killing the industry,” IRP chairman Peter Kingsley said.
“The extra costs incurred by the importers are only pushing up the retail price of genuine aftermarket parts – to the detriment of the consumer,” Kingsley added. “Customs and Excise wants to protect the consumer by ensuring that counterfeit goods do not enter the country, but these lengthy delays – as a result of inefficiency or red tape – are undoing their good work.
“In addition, when goods are repacked they frequently do not fit back into their containers, which were packed by experts. In the process, goods are frequently damaged, which means they are a further loss for importers,” Osborne added.
The RMI now hopes to negotiate an agreement with the legal representatives of most of the main automotive manufacturers that would simplify the rules governing the import of “alternative” spare parts.
The aim would be to ensure that the inspection of containers was speeded up, ensuring a smoother and more reliable flow of spare parts, an RMI spokesman said.