Upbeat despite hurdles

VW SA BOSS: CONFIDENT IN SPITE OF HEADWINDS FIRM HAS CONTENDED WITH → Auto industry needs cleaner fuel by 2027, or companies will go belly up.

- MARTINA BIENE

Despite all the headwinds we have had to contend with in the first two months of this year, I retain my sense of confidence. I can't say unbridled optimism, because of the unresolved problems that we continue to face in South Africa, but I am positive about the prospects that this year holds.

With the minor glitch of the thankfully brief return of load shedding, we dare not forget that we had enjoyed almost a year of uninterrupted power.

The government of national unity has brought stability to an unprecedented situation and it is to the credit of all the parties for the speed with which they ventured into the unknown and formed a government.

My home country faced the same situation last month and I am grateful, too, that Germans were able to choose a chancellor as quickly as South Africans elected their president.

Stability is vital for investor confidence and this has been boosted by the interest rate cuts we have enjoyed.

There has been progress on implementing the south corridor, allowing us to transport the vehicles we make to Gauteng as well as the Kariega to Port corridor in Nelson Mandela Bay.