ED RICHARDSON WITH TWO months to go, the Port of Port Elizabeth’s ro-ro terminal has already exceeded its budget by 20%, or over 10 000 units. According to spokesperson Sindie Ndwalaza, the terminal processed 63 636 vehicles from April 2005 to January 2006. This was 10 636 ahead of the budgeted 53 000, and ahead of the total of 59 030 units handled in the previous financial year. The best month was December, with 8 077 units and January the lowest at 3 499 – which is probably a reflection of low manufacturer stock levels after the Christmas break. Volumes started increasing in July, (7 645 vs 4 579 in June), dipped slightly to 6 643 in August, and remained above 7 000 units a month for the rest of the year. According to Andreas Tostmann, managing director, Volkswagen of South Africa, the company’s market share in the passenger market has remained consistent around the 21.5% level for the past three years. Passenger market share of 21.5% in 2005 gave Volkswagen of South Africa market leadership. In 2005, Volkswagen passenger volumes were 28% up on 2004, or 1% ahead of the total passenger market growth over the period. Of the 112 000 vehicles produced in the Uitenhage plant in 2005, 40 000 were exported to the Asia Pacific region. Vehicle exports have grown by close to 30% over the past two years making Volkswagen of South Africa the Number 1 vehicle exporter in 2005, according to Tostmann. General Motors South Africa is engaged in a R439 million expansion to gear up for the export of the HUMMER H3, a left-hand drive vehicle aimed at export markets in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. It will be made available in right hand drive during 2007.
