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Africa acts to defective Toyata cars
The global uncertainty over the safety of selected Toyota brand vehicles has started rearing its ugly head into Africa. While a huge number of automobiles find themselves into Africa from as far as Japan, France, Germany, Britain and the United States, it is believed that these vehicle brands are either old models or are specifically made for the African terrain.
Recent reports that some selected Toyata brands have been detected with some defects, which include accelerators and brakes, have raised some concerns across the continent where the Toyota brands have market.
In South Africa, officials from Toyata recently announced they were re-calling close to 53, 000 cars.
The South African arm of Toyota Motor Corporation said then it would recall almost 53,000 cars as part of a global move to repair accelerator and brake problem
The South African arm of Toyota Motor Corporation said then it would recall almost 53,000 cars as part of a global move to repair accelerator and brake problem
Johan van Zyl, president and chief executive of Toyota South Africa, said the company chose to participate in the worldwide recall as a precautionary measure despite the fact that the problem hasn't "surfaced to the same effect in the hot and dry climate of South Africa."
In Zimbabwe, Toyota Zimbabwe said it would recall 93 vehicles, all of the Corolla brand, in order to carry out checks for defective accelerators as part of the massive worldwide recall of some of the automotive giant’s flagship brand names which have been found to have mechanical defects.
Toyota Zimbabwe managing director Ian Howden said recently that they have traced and discovered that the 93 vehicles could be affected by the accelerator problem and these would be returned to the workshops for detailed checks for defects.
But the Zambian arm of the company said the models of its vehicles being sold on the Zambian market were not affected by sticking accelerator pedals as experienced in other parts of the world.
Toyota Zambia Limited managing director, Andrew Marshall said in a statement in the Zambian capital Lusaka that none of the Toyota models sold in Zambia had been affected by the problem.
Marshall said the recall has been focused on vehicles produced in the USA for the left hand drive markets, which use accelerator pedals assembled in that country.
The vehicles affected are limited to some of the 2009-2010 Toyota Rave 4 certain 2009-2010 Toyota Matrix and 2008-2010 Toyota Avon , 2007-2010 Toyota Highlander, 2007-2010 Toyota Camry, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra and 2008-2010 Toyota Sequoia.
Toyota is one of the most popular brands of vehicles in Africa, with the majority of them being reconditioned imports from Japan and South Asia.
Across the world, Toyota Motor Corporation has recalled the 2007-2009 Camry, 2008-2009 Avensis, the 2004-2009 Prius and the 2005-2009 RAV 4.
Ford supports SA small business
30-Mar-11
PRETORIA, (CAJ News) - FORD Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) pouring a whopping R3.4 billion investment aimed at producing new Ford Ranger pick-up truck in South Africa, an official announced.
The announcement follows the officially opening of Ford production simulator facility in Pretoria expected to establish and nurture black-owned component manufacturing for the South African automotive industry.
The newly operational facility is aimed at preparing for the production launch of the next-generation of Ford Ranger, which will be available to engineering students in the Gauteng province.
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) committed R50 million for the construction of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BB-BEE) supplier incubation facility with an additional R15 million for start-up costs for BB-BEE companies.
"Gauteng province has demonstrated its commitment to growth in the automotive industry by including this sector in its industrial policies and future strategies which include the Gauteng Economic Growth and Development Strategy adopted by the Province in 2010," said for Economic Development, Ms Qedani Mahlangu.
According to an economic impact report, Ford's investment program would contribute R79 billion (US$11.8billion) to the Gauteng economy over the next 15 years and create almost 700 000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Ford Motor Company Southern Africa President and CEO Jeff Nemeth said the BB-BEE initiative and training program was another example of Ford's commitment to strengthen South Africa's position as a world class manufacturer and exporter of vehicles and engine components.
"As part of the One Ford plan, and to maintain a viable and strategic presence in Southern Africa, we require a globally integrated automotive supply chain and a highly trained workforce," said Nemeth.