Business

Warning to vehicle buyers

13 February 2009

South Africa's Motor Industry Ombudsman has cautioned consumers against buying from new vehicle brands on the market.

"One fairly new brand on the market has in fact already closed its doors without warning, leaving customers stranded without parts or service back-up facilities," ombudsman Johan van Vreden said on Thursday.

"Numerous of them have approached the ombudsman's office for assistance," he said, adding that detailed data on the number of complaints would be released in the ombudsman's year-end report soon.

The South African importer of the Chinese-built Geely cars went into liquidation last month, citing a downturn in the new vehicle market. Geely sold sedans priced between R74 995 and R113 295.

Last September, Volkswagen South Africa halted the sales of the Spanish Seat, and McCarthy Motor Holdings stopped importing the Chinese Meiya brand in December, reported www.motoring.co.za.

Also, Combined Motor Holdings had scaled down the sales of the Soyat double cab and special utility vehicle models manufactured by the Nanjing Automobile Corporation in China.

"I just think that consumers should be wide awake," said Van Vreden.

"They must be very careful what company they buy from and they must watch the press. They must buy from reputable motor dealers with a history. They just have to protect themselves."

Van Vreden said car buyers should first investigate a company's track record, and could check on the commitment of manufacturers, importers and dealers on the ombudsman's website, www.miosa.co.za.

January 2009 saw the worst new vehicle sales in the past eight years, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa reported, with a more than 35 percent drop compared to the same month last year.

Sapa