Ed Richardson SOUTH AFRICAN vehicle exports accelerated by 71.1% year-on-year (y/y) in September 2005 to a record 17 509 units, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa). In the first nine months there was a 13.1% y/y increase to 96 113 units. This was due to BMW’s production of the “old” 3 Series ending in February. It took some time for exports of the “new” 3 Series to ramp up. In 2004 BMW exported over 30 000 units, but due to the model changeover, BMW may struggle to exceed that in 2005. Exports of the new 3 series started in April and with it came the first y/y increase this year. BMW have exported 19 228 units in the first nine months of 2005. Naamsa said in March that it expected exports to rise by 31.7% to 145 500 units this year after a 12.8% drop last year to 110 507 units from 2003’s 126 661 units. To achieve that 2005 export target means that monthly exports need to exceed 16 460 units for the remaining three months of the year. According to Naamsa, the September figures show that it is now possible to meet that target. The previous record export month was 14 947 units, set in August 2004.
