Nov 2002
Alive with possibilities! That’s the slogan that South Africa’s Marketing Council believes encapsulates the spirit of this country. Captains of industry and Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin, are in total agreement.
Speaking at the opening of Auto Africa 2002, NAAMSA chairman Ian Robertson, was superlative in his praise of the current shape of SA’s automotive industry across-the-board. “At the start of 2002, there was much doom and gloom with predictions of a drop in vehicle sales exacerbated by price and interest rate hikes and the continuing decline in the value of the Rand.
“Good news in the heavy commercial vehicle sector is that sales are up 15% on last year’s figures,” he said. “The HCV sector provides a good gauge on how the overall economy is performing.
“With exports valued at R40-billion overall going to countries like the USA, Japan, UK, Australia and New Zealand – all with highly demanding consumers and markets with expectations of world class standards – we are experiencing an export boom.”
According to Alec Erwin, SA’s motor industry has not nearly reached its full potential. “When the MIDP started in 1993, many felt it was a crisis moment – would we just end up importing vehicles in the future?
“But as we’ve become part of the global economy, we’ve progressed in the manufacturing process and benchmark well with our global peers” he countered. “At the DTI, we believe that South Africa will become a major manufacturing economy within the next five to 10 years.”
Speaking at SAVRALA’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards 2002, CEO of McCarthy Motor Holdings, Brand Pretorius said: “While there are some formidable negatives to overcome -unemployment, the impact of HIV/AIDS and a currency that has depreciated by an average of 12% per annum over the last 20 years – there are also many positives including political stability and quality leadership.
“The quality of SA’s money and fiscal management is outstanding and this is the ninth consecutive year of economic growth. Last year was the first since 1980 that SA’s growth and GDP exceeded the world average.”
“Today, South Africa is a respected member of the global community and our motor industry is proof of that,” continued Pretorius. “In 1995, we exported just over 7 000 vehicles. In 2002, the figure is 130 000 vehicles.”
SAVRALA president, John Broadway, echoes the positive sentiments of both Robertson and Pretorius. “The consistent application by Government of sound policies in all spheres of South African life in recent years has created a good platform for business. For our members in the rental and fleet management industries, there is real optimism for 2003 and beyond, with many exciting opportunities ahead.”
“The new South Africa is not an event,” said Pretorius, “it is a process that will take much time and energy to create that miracle we were all hoping for.” Quoting an old Chinese proverb, “better to light a candle than curse the darkness,” he concluded: “Let’s go out there and face the future with confidence and determination – let’s do our best to light a few candles in 2003!”
And so say all of us …