Capital Equipment News February 2017

TRANSPORT

UD Trucks Southern Africa expects an exciting year ahead, especially on the product front with several new launches expected.

2016 Dec

2016

MAKE HINO ISUZU

UNITS

MS %

POS

UNITS

MS %

POS

148 245

20.8% 34.4% 11.9%

2 1 3

2231 2131 1164

25.8% 24.7% 13.5%

1 2 3

MERCEDES

85

FUSO

63

8.8%

5

873

10.1%

4

VOLKSWAGEN

77 54 11

10.8%

4 6 7 9 7

797 600 306 204 123 108

9.2% 6.9% 3.5% 2.4% 1.4% 1.2% 0.9% 0.3%

5 6 7 8 9

IVECO

7.6% 1.5% 1.1% 1.5% 0.7% 0.7% 0.1%

TATA

HYUNDAI

8

FORD

11

JMC

5 5 1

10 10 12

10 11 12

PEUGEOT

77 28

FIAT

CITROEN

0.0%

13

3

0.0%

13

UD TRUCKS

0

0.0%

13

0

0.0%

14

However, he reasons that ongoing political tensions, the incessant risk of credit rating downgrades and an increase in taxes, which will definitely erode spending power for fleet owners, will likely have a negative impact on the performance of the South African commercial vehicle market this year. While prospects look much better for the year ahead, Schulz advises that for the truck industry and the economy at large to grow at a sustainable rate, there is need to reignite the South African economy. “While other countries in the region are racing to build roads, ports, power stations and hospitals,

South Africa is clearly lacking the political and economic drive to fast-track sustainable development,” says Schulz. “As a country, we have vast expertise, but for instance, only 7% of construction projects in sub-Saharan Africa are undertaken by South African companies, while 32% of contracts are awarded to Chinese entities. There are clearly more opportunities to seize for South Africa and to grow our local economy,” adds Schulz. He is also of the view that a consolidated road freight industry is also needed to drive reform and advancement in the sector, as

SEGMENT

2016 8 645 5 589

LDT MDT HDT BUS

12 583

1 327

TOTAL

28 144

well as in the larger economy. “Trucking touches every facet of the society and is a key driver of economic development, from construction to long-haul transport of commodities, cold chain logistics and utilities. Businesses therefore have to be

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS FEBRUARY 2017 7