On Wednesday East London harbour saw the loading of the largest consignment of South African-built, new-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans yet, as 3168 cars destined for the US market rolled aboard the car transporter Liberty Ace, for their long voyage to Baltimore, Brunswick and Long Beach.
Rainer Ruess, head of manufacturing at Mercedes-Benz' East London plant, said this shipment reaffirmed that US customers were happy with the consistent build quality from the South African plant. In 2009, and again in July this year, JD Power presented Gold Awards for initial quality to this plant, while in 2010 the plant won the Platinum Award for the best quality plant anywhere in the world supplying cars to the US market.
But it's not all one-way traffic; later this week, East London will see the arrival of the largest car carrier yet to enter the Buffalo River when the 231-metre Tijuca docks to deliver a consignment of vehicles for the South African market.