Hyundai SA mulls introduction of heavy-duty Xcient trucks
HASA's new Benoni plant
Photo by Duane Daws
HASA's new Benoni plant
Photo by Duane Daws
HASA's new Benoni plant
Hyundai Automotive South Africa (HASA) is evaluating the viability of introducing the heavy-duty Hyundai Xcient truck range into South Africa, says HASA commercial vehicles director Wade Griffin.
The market study should be completed towards the end of the year, he adds.
“The rand:dollar exchange rate is not favourable at the moment.”
Griffin says the right-hand-drive version of the Xcient is already available from the South Korean car and truck maker.
HASA is not yet sure whether the Xcient range, if launched locally, will be imported as fully built-up units, or whether they will be assembled from semi-knock down kits at HASA’s new truck plant, in Gauteng, he notes.
The Imperial-owned HASA imports the Hyundai brand into South Africa, with the Korean company holding no shares in the local company.
HASA commercial vehicles GM Danie de Beer says it is important for HASA to fully understand the heavy truck market before it decides whether to launch the Xcient.
“There are 23 competitors in the market. You have to make sure it doesn’t blow up in your face.”
The Xcient range runs up to 56 t, and includes 6x2, 4x2, 8x4 and 6x4 tractors, as well as mixer and tipper chassis.
Although not reporting its sales in detail every month, HASA is believed to be number three in the passenger car market in South Africa. Expanding on its currently limited commercial vehicle range could increase HASA sales volumes in the domestic market.
HASA’s current commercial vehicle range includes the H100 bakkie, as well as medium-duty trucks, such as the HD65 and HD72, now assembled locally at the new R110-million plant.
Local assembly of the H100 is expected to start in early 2015, at around 4 200 units a year, adding to the 600 medium trucks a year expected to roll off the local production line.
“This investment in our commercial vehicle division enables us to be more aggressive and competitive due to the zero import duty provided as an incentive for the local assembly of trucks,” says Griffin.
Imports duties of 20% are levied on fully built-up medium trucks entering South Africa.
The assembly of Hyundai passenger cars in South Africa is “not on the cards”, says HASA marketing director Stanley Anderson.
Comments
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation