5500 vehicles to be
exported this year,
writes Ed Richardson
NISSAN SA says it is on target to export 5500 vehicles to Africa this year despite the problems in Zimbabwe.
This should keep the company's Rosslyn plant near Pretoria - which is now French-controlled following the global alliance between Nissan and Renault - as South Africa's biggest vehicle exporter into Africa.
In the first four months of 2000, Nissan SA's exports to Africa totalled 1 635 units against 1 199 units in the same period of 1999.
In April, Nissan SA shipped 379 completely built up (CBU) right- and left-hand drive vehicles to African countries, giving the company over 43% of South Africa's vehicle exports into Africa. Although this was down on the 433 units shipped in March, Nissan's year-to-date African exports continue to run well ahead of last year. So far this year Nissan SA has achieved a 46% share of this export business.
Although trading conditions in Zimbabwe are difficult, Nissan is about to ship 180 completely knocked down (CKD) kits for assembly at the company's Zimbabwean plant. These exports will be reflected in May's export figures.
The plant has a capacity of about 200 units monthly. Zimbabwe is an important market for Nissan SA and the company says that it is confident that it will continue to export a steady supply of CKD kits to Zimbabwe for assembly there.
Nissan and Renault are investigating the potential for assembling Renault vehicles at the Rosslyn plant and these could have considerable potential for export into Africa. Rosslyn already assembles Fiat cars under contract for local and export markets.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
