Export growth will offset declining local car demand – Naamsa

EXPORTS OF South
African-made vehicles
are expected to support
the local manufacturing
industry as local sales
decline during 2008,
according to the National
Association of Automobile
Manufacturers of South
Africa (Naamsa).
For 2008, industry
export sales are projected
to exceed 255 000
vehicles. This will boost the
industry’s total domestic
production from 542 000
vehicles in 2007 to about
620 000 in 2008.
In contrast, 2007
industry exports at 171 260
vehicles reflected a decline
of 8 599 vehicles or 4.8%
compared to the 179 859
vehicles exported in 2006.
The fall was primarily due to
the fact that the Mercedes-
Benz factory in East London
had been refurbished during
the year and as a result no
vehicles had been produced
for export for about five
months during 2007,
according to Naamsa.