Johannesburg - Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA) and Transnet set a vehicle export record at the East London port in April by exporting more than 10 000 new C-Class models from MBSA’s plant.
Arno van der Merwe, the chief executive and executive director manufacturing at MBSA, said this week that MBSA was the highest exporter of new vehicles in South Africa when it recorded a total of 10 674 exports.
“It is pleasing to see this type of successful collaboration between manufacturers, shipping lines and ports in achieving increased volumes with quick turnaround times,” he said.
Van der Merwe added that a total of 25 860 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles had been exported via the East London port over the last three months.
He added this achievement was part of building up from the record number of units the East London plant produced last year and enabled it to be a net exporter from South Africa.
Karl Socikwa, the chief executive of Transnet Port Terminals, said they were thrilled to be a key enabler of the automotive sector.
Richard Vallihu, the chief executive of Transnet National Ports Authority, said its invoiced figures for April this year confirmed MBSA as exporter of the highest volume of new vehicles of the six original equipment manufacturers.
BUSINESS REPORT