Strike hits car trade

BECAUSE of the strike in the car industry export numbers recorded a year- on- year monthly decline of 75.1 percent in September, but some recovery last month, Naamsa said.

“Industry new vehicle exports during October, at 21 125 vehicles, registered a substantial decline of 3 767 units, or a fall of 15.1 percent compared to the 24 892 vehicles exported in October last year,” the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA said.

As a result, the original 2013 industry projection of vehicle exports of 336 000 units would likely be revised downward, to about 290 000 units this year.

Naamsa said last month’s export figures recovered as manufacturers resumed “normalised vehicle production” mid- month. Exports were expected to improve. – Sapa