Some logistics companies and shipping lines will be affected by the announcement that General Motors will no longer be making the Hummer in South Africa. The losses to the logistics industry are however expected to be minimal as Hummer assembly in South Africa has been minimal for some time. In 2006, General Motors built a modern R700-million assembly facility in Port Elizabeth for right hand drive Hummers for the world market. Exports to Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa were expected to reach around 10 000 units a year. Global sales were hit by the fuel crisis, and the now bankrupt General Motors has been in discussions for some time with buyers of the Hummer brand. The company says it has now found a buyer, and that all manufacturing will once again be centred in the Shreveport plant in the United States. “Since all engineering and design on Hummer is developed in the US and 95% of components are sourced from the US, the impact on South African operations is minimal,” says General Motors South Africa in a statement.
