Engine certification issues resolved, exports back to normal – Toyota SA
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) says the engine certification issues that affected its new-vehicle export business last year have been resolved.
“Export streams are continuing as before,” says a company spokesperson.
“The Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) engine certification approval impacted TSAM’s export business.
“While production for our local market continued largely unaffected, the TICO challenges affected Hilux export models to Europe.”
The local arm of the Japanese vehicle manufacturer produces the Hilux bakkie at its Durban plant for the local and export markets, including Europe.
Toyota said in January last year that it would suspend the shipment of some models, including the Hilux and Land Cruiser 300, after finding irregularities in certification tests for diesel engines developed by its TICO affiliate.
A special investigative committee found irregularities during horsepower output testing for the certification of three diesel engine models, Reuters reported.
The situation escalated later in 2024, as TICO in January informed the relevant EU authority about the completed investigation in Japan.
In March, TICO received instructions from the EU to reconfirm already existing engine certificates from the authorised EU certification bodies, by performing renewed engine testing.
TSAM did not quantify the impact on its production and export volumes.
Major local component supplier to the TSAM plant in Durban, Metair, says it has been especially hard hit by lower production volumes at TSAM last year.
Metair says the delayed certification process exposed it to a yearly volume decline of about 28%.
Toyota’s new-vehicle market share in South Africa was almost 25% last year and it is the undisputed market leader.
Total South African local market vehicle production, split between several manufacturers’ plants, declined by about 5%, from 649 231 vehicles in 2023, to 615 989 vehicles in 2024, amid a sluggish domestic economy.
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