The evolution of SA’s motor industry into a major exporter

WHEN it comes to South African exports, one usually thinks of fine wines as well as shiny minerals such as gold and diamonds.

- JASON WOOSEY

But what many don’t realise is that South Africa is a major exporter of vehicles.

It wasn’t always this way. During the dark days of apartheid, South Africa’s motor manufacturing industry adopted a protectionist mindset, and the industry focused on producing a large number of models at relatively low volumes.

Our country has been producing cars since the 1920s, with Ford having opened up its Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) factory in 1924, while General Motors followed suit in 1926.

Many came and departed, and by the time our market opened up to the rest of the world at the dawn of democracy in 1994, South Africa had seven manufacturers.

The winds of change were sweeping through the industry, and the introduction of the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP) in 1995 brought lower import tariffs as well as strong financial incentives for exporting products.