Durban company sets up hub for used Japanese cars

IF YOU'RE looking for a good deal on a second hand car, Japan is the place to go.
But before you get too excited about landing your dream low-mileage car in South Africa at a fraction of the local price, unless you're living somewhere other than South Africa, it's not legal.
Stringent laws prevent the import of second-hand vehicles into South Africa, but this is not the case overborder which has seen the creation of a lucrative market in the import of second-hand vehicles into Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Recognising the potential five years ago, Durban-based Bonded Vehicle Distributors (BVD), a subsidiary of Japan-based Trust Company, set up a distribution hub in Durban. BVD has established two bonded warehouses in close proximity to Maydon Wharf and currently moves in the region of 200 vehicles a month through its Durban hub.
We bring the vehicles in, hold them in bond, and distribute to other countries, says Alan Berg, Japan-based partner in the venture.
Last year the company exported in excess of 10 000 used vehicles from Japan.
And it's a market which is likely to grow, according to local BVD representative Dion Pienaar.
Because the Japanese car market is so highly competitive, all cars come with standard extras like power steering, air conditioning etc. And all have extremely low mileage.
We're now looking at ways to expand the business, says Berg. We're trying to set up an agency and dealer network in southern Africa and are interesting in making contact with people who have a network of southern African contacts.
One of the projects in the pipeline is the creation of a network of satellite bond stores.